diff --git a/src/search.cpp b/src/search.cpp
index 533cf61b613..2a95e62ac25 100644
--- a/src/search.cpp
+++ b/src/search.cpp
@@ -463,11 +463,8 @@ void Search::Worker::iterative_deepening() {
                 else
                     threads.stop = true;
             }
-            else if (!mainThread->ponder
-                     && mainThread->tm.elapsed(threads.nodes_searched()) > totalTime * 0.506)
-                threads.increaseDepth = false;
             else
-                threads.increaseDepth = true;
+                threads.increaseDepth = mainThread->ponder || mainThread->tm.elapsed(threads.nodes_searched()) <= totalTime * 0.506;
         }
 
         mainThread->iterValue[iterIdx] = bestValue;