diff --git a/actor/actor_context.go b/actor/actor_context.go
index d1d20b72..55de5dc0 100644
--- a/actor/actor_context.go
+++ b/actor/actor_context.go
@@ -214,19 +214,15 @@ func (ctx *actorContext) Unwatch(who *PID) {
 }
 
 func (ctx *actorContext) SetReceiveTimeout(d time.Duration) {
-	if d <= 0 {
-		panic("Duration must be greater than zero")
+	if d < time.Millisecond {
+		// anything less than 1 millisecond is set to zero
+		d = 0
 	}
 
 	if d == ctx.receiveTimeout {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if d < time.Millisecond {
-		// anything less than 1 millisecond is set to zero
-		d = 0
-	}
-
 	ctx.receiveTimeout = d
 
 	ctx.ensureExtras()