diff --git a/wled00/ntp.cpp b/wled00/ntp.cpp
index 85bdcc7f..e7dbf743 100644
--- a/wled00/ntp.cpp
+++ b/wled00/ntp.cpp
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ static bool isValidNtpResponse(byte * ntpPacket) {
   //   based on https://github.com/taranais/NTPClient/blob/master/NTPClient.cpp
   if((ntpPacket[0] & 0b11000000) == 0b11000000) return false; //reject LI=UNSYNC
   // if((ntpPacket[0] & 0b00111000) >> 3 < 0b100) return false; //reject Version < 4
-  if((ntpPacket[0] & 0b00000111) != 0b100)      return false; //reject Mode == Server
+  if((ntpPacket[0] & 0b00000111) != 0b100)      return false; //reject Mode != Server
   if((ntpPacket[1] < 1) || (ntpPacket[1] > 15)) return false; //reject invalid Stratum
   if(	ntpPacket[16] == 0 && ntpPacket[17] == 0 && 
       ntpPacket[18] == 0 && ntpPacket[19] == 0 &&
diff --git a/wled00/set.cpp b/wled00/set.cpp
index 01ebf5db..efc0813c 100644
--- a/wled00/set.cpp
+++ b/wled00/set.cpp
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ void handleSettingsSet(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, byte subPage)
 
     //start ntp if not already connected
     if (ntpEnabled && WLED_CONNECTED && !ntpConnected) ntpConnected = ntpUdp.begin(ntpLocalPort);
-    ntpLastSyncTime = 0; // force new NTP query
+    ntpLastSyncTime = NTP_NEVER; // force new NTP query
 
     longitude = request->arg(F("LN")).toFloat();
     latitude = request->arg(F("LT")).toFloat();
diff --git a/wled00/wled.cpp b/wled00/wled.cpp
index a527f296..bf1ab225 100644
--- a/wled00/wled.cpp
+++ b/wled00/wled.cpp
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ void WLED::loop()
   if (lastMqttReconnectAttempt > millis()) {
     rolloverMillis++;
     lastMqttReconnectAttempt = 0;
-    ntpLastSyncTime = 0;
+    ntpLastSyncTime = NTP_NEVER;  // force new NTP query
     strip.restartRuntime();
   }
   if (millis() - lastMqttReconnectAttempt > 30000 || lastMqttReconnectAttempt == 0) { // lastMqttReconnectAttempt==0 forces immediate broadcast
diff --git a/wled00/wled.h b/wled00/wled.h
index 8a9a38d2..2572c73f 100644
--- a/wled00/wled.h
+++ b/wled00/wled.h
@@ -644,10 +644,11 @@ WLED_GLOBAL String escapedMac;
 WLED_GLOBAL DNSServer dnsServer;
 
 // network time
+#define NTP_NEVER 999000000L
 WLED_GLOBAL bool ntpConnected _INIT(false);
 WLED_GLOBAL time_t localTime _INIT(0);
-WLED_GLOBAL unsigned long ntpLastSyncTime _INIT(999000000L);
-WLED_GLOBAL unsigned long ntpPacketSentTime _INIT(999000000L);
+WLED_GLOBAL unsigned long ntpLastSyncTime _INIT(NTP_NEVER);
+WLED_GLOBAL unsigned long ntpPacketSentTime _INIT(NTP_NEVER);
 WLED_GLOBAL IPAddress ntpServerIP;
 WLED_GLOBAL uint16_t ntpLocalPort _INIT(2390);
 WLED_GLOBAL uint16_t rolloverMillis _INIT(0);