diff --git a/desktop_version/src/Game.cpp b/desktop_version/src/Game.cpp
index baa0a143..1f0e1440 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/Game.cpp
+++ b/desktop_version/src/Game.cpp
@@ -5854,6 +5854,21 @@ std::string Game::timetstring( int t )
     return tempstring;
 }
 
+void Game::timestringcenti(char* buffer, const size_t buffer_size)
+{
+    /* 16 chars should be plenty for int32s */
+    char hours_str[16] = {'\0'};
+    if (hours > 0)
+    {
+        SDL_snprintf(hours_str, sizeof(hours_str), "%i:", hours);
+    }
+    SDL_snprintf(
+        buffer, buffer_size,
+        "%s%02i:%02i.%02i",
+        hours_str, minutes, seconds, frames * 100 / 30
+    );
+}
+
 void Game::returnmenu(void)
 {
     if (menustack.empty())
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/Game.h b/desktop_version/src/Game.h
index 4f517e69..fd0fc103 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/Game.h
+++ b/desktop_version/src/Game.h
@@ -136,6 +136,8 @@ public:
 
     std::string timetstring(int t);
 
+    void timestringcenti(char* buffer, size_t buffer_size);
+
     void returnmenu(void);
     void returntomenu(enum Menu::MenuName t);
     void  createmenu(enum Menu::MenuName t, bool samemenu = false);
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/Render.cpp b/desktop_version/src/Render.cpp
index 93b03c41..c8b51528 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/Render.cpp
+++ b/desktop_version/src/Render.cpp
@@ -1743,8 +1743,10 @@ void gamerender(void)
 
     if (graphics.fademode==0 && !game.intimetrial && !game.isingamecompletescreen() && (!game.swnmode || game.swngame != 1) && game.showingametimer)
     {
+        char buffer[40 + 1]; /* Screen width 40, ASCII only */
         graphics.bprint(6, 6, "TIME:",  255,255,255);
-        graphics.bprint(46, 6, game.timestring(),  196, 196, 196);
+        game.timestringcenti(buffer, sizeof(buffer));
+        graphics.bprint(46, 6, buffer,  196, 196, 196);
     }
 
     if(map.extrarow==0 || (map.custommode && map.roomname!=""))
@@ -1952,6 +1954,9 @@ void gamerender(void)
         }
         else
         {
+            char buffer[40 + 1]; /* Screen width 40, ASCII only */
+            game.timestringcenti(buffer, sizeof(buffer));
+
             //Draw OSD stuff
             graphics.bprint(6, 18, "TIME :",  255,255,255);
             graphics.bprint(6, 30, "DEATH:",  255, 255, 255);
@@ -1959,11 +1964,11 @@ void gamerender(void)
 
             if(game.timetrialparlost)
             {
-                graphics.bprint(56, 18, game.timestring(),  196, 80, 80);
+                graphics.bprint(56, 18, buffer,  196, 80, 80);
             }
             else
             {
-                graphics.bprint(56, 18, game.timestring(),  196, 196, 196);
+                graphics.bprint(56, 18, buffer,  196, 196, 196);
             }
             if(game.deathcounts>0)
             {