diff --git a/src/elements/aray.cpp b/src/elements/aray.cpp
index dd4a80b58..844b549f5 100644
--- a/src/elements/aray.cpp
+++ b/src/elements/aray.cpp
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ int update_ARAY(UPDATE_FUNC_ARGS) {
 					r = pmap[y+ry][x+rx];
 					if (!r)
 						continue;
-					if ((r&0xFF)==PT_SPRK && parts[r>>8].life>0 && parts[r>>8].life<4) {
+					if ((r&0xFF)==PT_SPRK && parts[r>>8].life==3) {
 						int destroy = (parts[r>>8].ctype==PT_PSCN)?1:0;
 						int nostop = (parts[r>>8].ctype==PT_INST)?1:0;
 						for (docontinue = 1, nxx = 0, nyy = 0, nxi = rx*-1, nyi = ry*-1; docontinue; nyy+=nyi, nxx+=nxi) {