diff --git a/src/town.h b/src/town.h
index 42495971ec..010c7c2168 100644
--- a/src/town.h
+++ b/src/town.h
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ struct Town : TownPool::PoolItem<&_town_pool> {
 
 	uint16 time_until_rebuild;     ///< time until we rebuild a house
 
-	uint16 grow_counter;           ///< counter to count when to grow
+	uint16 grow_counter;           ///< counter to count when to grow, value is smaller than or equal to growth_rate
 	uint16 growth_rate;            ///< town growth rate
 
 	byte fund_buildings_months;    ///< fund buildings program in action?
diff --git a/src/town_cmd.cpp b/src/town_cmd.cpp
index 76a6b36f4e..6674c905bd 100644
--- a/src/town_cmd.cpp
+++ b/src/town_cmd.cpp
@@ -3115,9 +3115,7 @@ static void UpdateTownGrowRate(Town *t)
 	if (t->larger_town) m /= 2;
 
 	t->growth_rate = m / (t->cache.num_houses / 50 + 1);
-	if (m <= t->grow_counter) {
-		t->grow_counter = m;
-	}
+	t->grow_counter = min(t->growth_rate, t->grow_counter);
 
 	SetBit(t->flags, TOWN_IS_GROWING);
 	SetWindowDirty(WC_TOWN_VIEW, t->index);