diff --git a/core/engine/src/context/time.rs b/core/engine/src/context/time.rs
index 0fb4fca5b90..b7f04969282 100644
--- a/core/engine/src/context/time.rs
+++ b/core/engine/src/context/time.rs
@@ -123,10 +123,8 @@ impl std::ops::Sub for JsInstant {
     #[inline]
     fn sub(self, rhs: JsInstant) -> Self::Output {
         JsDuration {
-            inner: self
-                .inner
-                .checked_sub(rhs.inner)
-                .expect("overflow when subtracting durations"),
+            // saturating preserves the behaviour of std's Instant.
+            inner: self.inner.saturating_sub(rhs.inner),
         }
     }
 }