diff --git a/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/effect/ParticleEmitter.java b/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/effect/ParticleEmitter.java
index 020803c876..19268b8175 100644
--- a/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/effect/ParticleEmitter.java
+++ b/jme3-core/src/main/java/com/jme3/effect/ParticleEmitter.java
@@ -783,7 +783,7 @@ public float getParticlesPerSec() {
      */
     public void setParticlesPerSec(float particlesPerSec) {
         this.particlesPerSec = particlesPerSec;
-        timeDifference = 0;
+        timeDifference = Math.min(timeDifference,1f / particlesPerSec); //prevent large accumulated timeDifference from causing a huge number of particles to be emitted
     }
 
     /**