diff --git a/checkin_notes b/checkin_notes
index 6475ea82a1..1dff4c2661 100644
--- a/checkin_notes
+++ b/checkin_notes
@@ -71,3 +71,9 @@ Charlie Jan 6 2009
 
     client/
         work_fetch.cpp
+
+David  9 Jan 2009
+    - client: connected_frac -1 is OK; fixes #821
+
+    client/
+        time_stats.cpp
diff --git a/client/time_stats.cpp b/client/time_stats.cpp
index f063af3d04..db16d37403 100644
--- a/client/time_stats.cpp
+++ b/client/time_stats.cpp
@@ -284,13 +284,8 @@ int TIME_STATS::parse(MIOFILE& in) {
             }
             continue;
         } else if (parse_double(buf, "<connected_frac>", x)) {
-            if (x <= 0 || x > 1) {
-                msg_printf(0, MSG_INTERNAL_ERROR,
-                    "bad value %f of time stats connected_frac; ignoring", x
-                );
-            } else {
-                connected_frac = x;
-            }
+            // -1 means undefined; skip check
+            connected_frac = x;
             continue;
         } else if (parse_double(buf, "<active_frac>", x)) {
             if (x <= 0 || x > 1) {