diff --git a/__init__.py b/__init__.py
index a6f1ea81..97e4ed1a 100644
--- a/__init__.py
+++ b/__init__.py
@@ -1807,7 +1807,10 @@ def _play_notify_expired(self, alert: Alert):
         timeout = self.alert_timeout_seconds
         max_volume = self.play_volume
         escalate = self.settings.get("escalate_volume")
-        if escalate and not alert.alert_type == AlertType.TIMER:
+        if alert.alert_type == AlertType.TIMER:
+            escalate = False
+
+        if escalate:
             volume = 0.1
             # half of the time play on full loudness, increments of 10% vol
             steps = int(timeout / 2 / ((max_volume - volume) / 0.1))