diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index 4463f55ce..2ee798cda 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -1827,7 +1827,9 @@ boolean G_Responder(event_t *ev)
 					if (menuactive || pausedelay < 0 || leveltime < 2)
 						return true;
 
-					if (++pausedelay > (NEWTICRATE/3))
+					if (pausedelay < 1+(NEWTICRATE/2))
+						pausedelay = 1+(NEWTICRATE/2);
+					else if (++pausedelay > 1+(NEWTICRATE/2)+(NEWTICRATE/3))
 					{
 						pausedelay = INT32_MIN;
 						G_SetRetryFlag();
diff --git a/src/hu_stuff.c b/src/hu_stuff.c
index f4730005e..7f66ade34 100644
--- a/src/hu_stuff.c
+++ b/src/hu_stuff.c
@@ -1121,16 +1121,11 @@ void HU_Drawer(void)
 		V_DrawCenteredString(BASEVIDWIDTH/2, 180, V_YELLOWMAP | V_ALLOWLOWERCASE, resynch_text);
 	}
 
-	if (modeattacking && pausedelay > 1)
+	if (modeattacking && pausedelay > 0)
 	{
-		UINT8 strength = (pausedelay*10)/(NEWTICRATE/3);
+		INT32 strength = ((pausedelay - 1 - NEWTICRATE/2)*10)/(NEWTICRATE/3);
 		INT32 y = hudinfo[HUD_LIVES].y - 13;
 
-		if (strength > 9)
-			V_DrawFill(0, 0, BASEVIDWIDTH, BASEVIDHEIGHT, 0);
-		else if (strength)
-			V_DrawFadeScreen(0, strength);
-
 		if (players[consoleplayer].powers[pw_carry] == CR_NIGHTSMODE)
 			y -= 16;
 		else
@@ -1141,7 +1136,14 @@ void HU_Drawer(void)
 				y -= 8;
 		}
 
-		V_DrawThinString(hudinfo[HUD_LIVES].x-2, y, hudinfo[HUD_LIVES].f|((leveltime & 2) ? V_SKYMAP : V_BLUEMAP), "RETRYING...");
+		V_DrawThinString(hudinfo[HUD_LIVES].x-2, y,
+			hudinfo[HUD_LIVES].f|((leveltime & 4) ? V_SKYMAP : V_BLUEMAP),
+			"HOLD TO RETRY...");
+
+		if (strength > 9)
+			V_DrawFill(0, 0, BASEVIDWIDTH, BASEVIDHEIGHT, 0);
+		else if (strength > 0)
+			V_DrawFadeScreen(0, strength);
 	}
 }