diff --git a/mods/nether/nether/portal.lua b/mods/nether/nether/portal.lua
index 33a516c7..2654e179 100755
--- a/mods/nether/nether/portal.lua
+++ b/mods/nether/nether/portal.lua
@@ -189,15 +189,11 @@ local function update_players()
 	end
 end
 
-local timer = 0	--doesn't work if the server lags
-minetest.register_globalstep(function(dtime)
-	timer = timer + dtime;
-	if timer >= 2 then
-		--minetest.after(1, update_players)
-		update_players()
-		timer = 0
-	end
-end)
+local function tick()
+	update_players()
+	minetest.after(2, tick)
+end
+tick()
 
 minetest.register_on_joinplayer(function(player)
 	minetest.after(0, function(player)