diff --git a/src/pulse/mainloop.c b/src/pulse/mainloop.c
index 0cb4af3d3..355935e09 100644
--- a/src/pulse/mainloop.c
+++ b/src/pulse/mainloop.c
@@ -799,10 +799,8 @@ int pa_mainloop_prepare(pa_mainloop *m, int timeout) {
 
         m->prepared_timeout = calc_next_timeout(m);
         if (timeout >= 0) {
-            uint64_t u = (uint64_t) timeout * PA_USEC_PER_MSEC;
-
-            if (u < m->prepared_timeout || m->prepared_timeout == PA_USEC_INVALID)
-                m->prepared_timeout = u;
+            if (timeout < m->prepared_timeout || m->prepared_timeout == PA_USEC_INVALID)
+                m->prepared_timeout = timeout;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/pulse/mainloop.h b/src/pulse/mainloop.h
index 5f8c62672..f1069daf5 100644
--- a/src/pulse/mainloop.h
+++ b/src/pulse/mainloop.h
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ void pa_mainloop_free(pa_mainloop* m);
 
 /** Prepare for a single iteration of the main loop. Returns a negative value
 on error or exit request. timeout specifies a maximum timeout for the subsequent
-poll, or -1 for blocking behaviour. .*/
+poll, or -1 for blocking behaviour. The timeout is specified in microseconds. */
 int pa_mainloop_prepare(pa_mainloop *m, int timeout);
 
 /** Execute the previously prepared poll. Returns a negative value on error.*/