diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/fields.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/fields.py
index b2596fb7f6..7ea844ff49 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/fields.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/fields.py
@@ -194,8 +194,7 @@ class RelativeTime(Field):
             return "00:00:00"
 
         if isinstance(value, float):  # backward compatibility
-            if value > 86400:
-                value = 86400
+            value = min(value, 86400)
             return self.timedelta_to_string(datetime.timedelta(seconds=value))
 
         if isinstance(value, datetime.timedelta):