diff --git a/src/basic/ratelimit.c b/src/basic/ratelimit.c
index 4e04e04426..2e94eed843 100644
--- a/src/basic/ratelimit.c
+++ b/src/basic/ratelimit.c
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ bool ratelimit_below(RateLimit *r) {
 
         assert(r);
 
-        if (r->interval <= 0 || r->burst <= 0)
+        if (!ratelimit_configured(r))
                 return true;
 
         ts = now(CLOCK_MONOTONIC);
diff --git a/src/basic/ratelimit.h b/src/basic/ratelimit.h
index 79e33b6a62..9d409b04b3 100644
--- a/src/basic/ratelimit.h
+++ b/src/basic/ratelimit.h
@@ -17,4 +17,8 @@ static inline void ratelimit_reset(RateLimit *rl) {
         rl->num = rl->begin = 0;
 }
 
+static inline bool ratelimit_configured(RateLimit *rl) {
+        return rl->interval > 0 && rl->burst > 0;
+}
+
 bool ratelimit_below(RateLimit *r);