diff --git a/src/Controller/GameFlowController.php b/src/Controller/GameFlowController.php
index 88eef5c..9e173d0 100644
--- a/src/Controller/GameFlowController.php
+++ b/src/Controller/GameFlowController.php
@@ -388,14 +388,14 @@ class GameFlowController
 
         // save user relevant state of challenge
         $userInChallenge->setCurrentRound($nextRound);
-        if ($this->request->post('timeLeft')) {
-            $userInChallenge->setTimeLeft(intval($this->request->post('timeLeft')));
+        $timeLeft = $this->request->post('timeLeft');
+        if (isset($timeLeft)) {
+            $userInChallenge->setTimeLeft(intval($timeLeft));
         }
         $this->pdm->saveToDb($userInChallenge);
 
-
-        if ($challenge->getTimeLimitType() === 'game' && $this->request->post('timeLeft')) {
-            $timeLimit = max(10, intval($this->request->post('timeLeft')));
+        if ($challenge->getTimeLimitType() === 'game' && isset($timeLeft)) {
+            $timeLimit = max(10, intval($timeLeft));
             $response['restrictions']['timeLimit'] = $timeLimit * 1000;
         }