diff --git a/soh/src/code/z_message_PAL.c b/soh/src/code/z_message_PAL.c
index 4e1dc8692..4736f95a7 100644
--- a/soh/src/code/z_message_PAL.c
+++ b/soh/src/code/z_message_PAL.c
@@ -835,6 +835,7 @@ void Message_DrawText(PlayState* play, Gfx** gfxP) {
     u16 i;
     u16 sfxHi;
     u16 charTexIdx;
+    int gTextSpeed;
     Font* font = &play->msgCtx.font;
     Gfx* gfx = *gfxP;
 
@@ -1115,11 +1116,17 @@ void Message_DrawText(PlayState* play, Gfx** gfxP) {
                 break;
         }
     }
-    if (msgCtx->textDelayTimer == 0) {
-        msgCtx->textDrawPos = i + CVarGetInteger(CVAR_ENHANCEMENT("TextSpeed"), 1);
+
+    gTextSpeed = CVarGetInteger(CVAR_ENHANCEMENT("TextSpeed"), 1);
+    if (msgCtx->textDelay == 0) {
+        msgCtx->textDrawPos = i + gTextSpeed;
+    } else if (msgCtx->textDelayTimer == 0) {
+        msgCtx->textDrawPos = i + 1;
         msgCtx->textDelayTimer = msgCtx->textDelay;
+    } else if (msgCtx->textDelayTimer <= gTextSpeed) {
+        msgCtx->textDelayTimer = 0;
     } else {
-        msgCtx->textDelayTimer--;
+        msgCtx->textDelayTimer -= gTextSpeed;
     }
     *gfxP = gfx;
 }