diff --git a/hugvey/central_command.py b/hugvey/central_command.py
index d9d0825..28e9eed 100644
--- a/hugvey/central_command.py
+++ b/hugvey/central_command.py
@@ -177,9 +177,10 @@ class CentralCommand(object):
             else:
                 diff = datetime.timedelta(seconds=int(hv.story.timer.getElapsed() - hv.story.lastMsgFinishTime))
                 status['time_since_hugvey_spoke'] = str(diff)
-                if diff > 300:
+                diffs  = diff.total_seconds()
+                if diffs > 300:
                     status['time_since_hugvey_spoke_state'] = 'critical'
-                elif diff > 100:
+                elif diffs > 100:
                     status['time_since_hugvey_spoke_state'] = 'warning'
             
             if not hv.story.timer.hasMark('last_speech'):
@@ -187,10 +188,11 @@ class CentralCommand(object):
             else:
                 diff = datetime.timedelta(seconds=int(hv.story.timer.getElapsed('last_speech')))
                 status['time_since_visitor_spoke'] = str(diff)
-                if diff > 300:
+                diffs = diff.total_seconds()
+                if diffs > 300:
 #                     evLogger.warning("Very long time since audience spoke")
                     status['time_since_visitor_spoke'] = 'critical'
-                elif diff > 100:
+                elif diffs > 100:
                     status['time_since_visitor_spoke'] = 'warning'
 #                 else:
 #                     #clear warning