diff --git a/src/core/ipv4/igmp.c b/src/core/ipv4/igmp.c
index 9cb4c0c6..107c0e9a 100644
--- a/src/core/ipv4/igmp.c
+++ b/src/core/ipv4/igmp.c
@@ -696,12 +696,18 @@ static void
 igmp_start_timer(struct igmp_group *group, u8_t max_time)
 {
   /* ensure the input value is > 0 */
+#ifdef LWIP_RAND
   if (max_time == 0) {
     max_time = 1;
   }
-#ifdef LWIP_RAND
   /* ensure the random value is > 0 */
   group->timer = (LWIP_RAND() % max_time);
+#else /* LWIP_RAND */
+  /* ATTENTION: use this only if absolutely necessary! */
+  group->timer = max_time / 2;
+  if (group->timer == 0) {
+    group->timer = 1;
+  }
 #endif /* LWIP_RAND */
 }