diff --git a/src/main/java/com/eu/habbo/habbohotel/rooms/RoomChatMessage.java b/src/main/java/com/eu/habbo/habbohotel/rooms/RoomChatMessage.java
index 0063a0d5..22a8b662 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/eu/habbo/habbohotel/rooms/RoomChatMessage.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/eu/habbo/habbohotel/rooms/RoomChatMessage.java
@@ -216,7 +216,12 @@ public class RoomChatMessage implements Runnable, ISerialize, DatabaseLoggable {
                         return;
                     }
                 } else {
-                    this.habbo.mute(Emulator.getConfig().getInt("hotel.wordfilter.automute"), false);
+                    int muteTime = Emulator.getConfig().getInt("hotel.wordfilter.automute");
+                    if (muteTime > 0) {
+                        this.habbo.mute(muteTime, false);
+                    } else {
+                        LOGGER.error("Invalid hotel.wordfilter.automute defined in emulator_settings ({}).", muteTime);
+                    }
                 }
 
                 this.message = "";
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/eu/habbo/habbohotel/users/Habbo.java b/src/main/java/com/eu/habbo/habbohotel/users/Habbo.java
index 242bdd02..af87ae9d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/eu/habbo/habbohotel/users/Habbo.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/eu/habbo/habbohotel/users/Habbo.java
@@ -384,6 +384,11 @@ public class Habbo implements Runnable {
     }
 
     public void mute(int seconds, boolean isFlood) {
+        if (seconds <= 0) {
+            LOGGER.warn("Tried to mute user for {} seconds, which is invalid.", seconds);
+            return;
+        }
+
         if (!this.hasPermission("acc_no_mute")) {
             int remaining = this.habboStats.addMuteTime(seconds);
             this.client.sendResponse(new FloodCounterComposer(remaining));