diff --git a/src/date.cpp b/src/date.cpp
index 4ef16aed78..9f91a2280b 100644
--- a/src/date.cpp
+++ b/src/date.cpp
@@ -249,7 +249,6 @@ static void OnNewMonth()
 static void OnNewDay()
 {
 #ifdef ENABLE_NETWORK
-	NetworkChatMessageDailyLoop();
 	if (_network_server) NetworkServerDailyLoop();
 #endif /* ENABLE_NETWORK */
 
diff --git a/src/network/network.cpp b/src/network/network.cpp
index 5631643d20..4e3fb53b4a 100644
--- a/src/network/network.cpp
+++ b/src/network/network.cpp
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ bool NetworkCompanyIsPassworded(CompanyID company_id)
  * If 'self_send' is true, this is the client who is sending the message */
 void NetworkTextMessage(NetworkAction action, ConsoleColour colour, bool self_send, const char *name, const char *str, int64 data)
 {
-	const int duration = 10; // Game days the messages stay visible
+	const int duration = 20; // Seconds the messages stay visible
 
 	StringID strid;
 	switch (action) {
diff --git a/src/network/network_chat_gui.cpp b/src/network/network_chat_gui.cpp
index 1d929bbb63..28a3afc99e 100644
--- a/src/network/network_chat_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/network/network_chat_gui.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ static const uint NETWORK_CHAT_LINE_SPACING = 3;
 struct ChatMessage {
 	char message[DRAW_STRING_BUFFER];
 	TextColour colour;
-	Date end_date;
+	uint32 remove_time;
 };
 
 /* used for chat window */
@@ -68,10 +68,10 @@ static inline uint GetChatMessageCount()
 /**
  * Add a text message to the 'chat window' to be shown
  * @param colour The colour this message is to be shown in
- * @param duration The duration of the chat message in game-days
+ * @param duration The duration of the chat message in seconds
  * @param message message itself in printf() style
  */
-void CDECL NetworkAddChatMessage(TextColour colour, uint8 duration, const char *message, ...)
+void CDECL NetworkAddChatMessage(TextColour colour, uint duration, const char *message, ...)
 {
 	char buf[DRAW_STRING_BUFFER];
 	const char *bufp;
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ void CDECL NetworkAddChatMessage(TextColour colour, uint8 duration, const char *
 		/* The default colour for a message is company colour. Replace this with
 		 * white for any additional lines */
 		cmsg->colour = (bufp == buf && (colour & IS_PALETTE_COLOUR)) ? colour : TC_WHITE;
-		cmsg->end_date = _date + duration;
+		cmsg->remove_time = _realtime_tick + duration * 1000;
 
 		bufp += strlen(bufp) + 1; // jump to 'next line' in the formatted string
 	}
@@ -181,15 +181,15 @@ void NetworkUndrawChatMessage()
 	}
 }
 
-/** Check if a message is expired every day */
-void NetworkChatMessageDailyLoop()
+/** Check if a message is expired. */
+void NetworkChatMessageLoop()
 {
 	for (uint i = 0; i < MAX_CHAT_MESSAGES; i++) {
 		ChatMessage *cmsg = &_chatmsg_list[i];
 		if (cmsg->message[0] == '\0') continue;
 
 		/* Message has expired, remove from the list */
-		if (cmsg->end_date < _date) {
+		if (cmsg->remove_time < _realtime_tick) {
 			/* Move the remaining messages over the current message */
 			if (i != MAX_CHAT_MESSAGES - 1) memmove(cmsg, cmsg + 1, sizeof(*cmsg) * (MAX_CHAT_MESSAGES - i - 1));
 
diff --git a/src/network/network_func.h b/src/network/network_func.h
index d6fc752d8a..f9bbde778b 100644
--- a/src/network/network_func.h
+++ b/src/network/network_func.h
@@ -79,9 +79,9 @@ void NetworkServerKickClient(ClientID client_id);
 uint NetworkServerKickOrBanIP(const char *ip, bool ban);
 
 void NetworkInitChatMessage();
-void CDECL NetworkAddChatMessage(TextColour colour, uint8 duration, const char *message, ...) WARN_FORMAT(3, 4);
+void CDECL NetworkAddChatMessage(TextColour colour, uint duration, const char *message, ...) WARN_FORMAT(3, 4);
 void NetworkUndrawChatMessage();
-void NetworkChatMessageDailyLoop();
+void NetworkChatMessageLoop();
 
 void NetworkAfterNewGRFScan();
 
diff --git a/src/openttd.cpp b/src/openttd.cpp
index 1e6df5f60b..8b4e013634 100644
--- a/src/openttd.cpp
+++ b/src/openttd.cpp
@@ -1359,6 +1359,13 @@ void GameLoop()
 		/* Singleplayer */
 		StateGameLoop();
 	}
+
+	/* Check chat messages roughly once a second. */
+	static uint check_message = 0;
+	if (++check_message > 1000 / MILLISECONDS_PER_TICK) {
+		check_message = 0;
+		NetworkChatMessageLoop();
+	}
 #else
 	StateGameLoop();
 #endif /* ENABLE_NETWORK */