diff --git a/assets/voxygen/shaders/include/sky.glsl b/assets/voxygen/shaders/include/sky.glsl
index 43a773f7cc..b44c95d522 100644
--- a/assets/voxygen/shaders/include/sky.glsl
+++ b/assets/voxygen/shaders/include/sky.glsl
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ vec3 get_sky_light(vec3 dir, float time_of_day, bool with_stars) {
         mix(
             SKY_DUSK_TOP,
             SKY_NIGHT_TOP,
-            max(pow(sun_dir.z, 0.2), 0)
+            pow(max(sun_dir.z, 0.0), 0.2)
         ) + star,
         SKY_DAY_TOP,
         max(-sun_dir.z, 0)
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ vec3 get_sky_light(vec3 dir, float time_of_day, bool with_stars) {
     vec3 sky_mid = mix(
         mix( SKY_DUSK_MID,
             SKY_NIGHT_MID,
-            max(pow(sun_dir.z, 0.1), 0)
+            pow(max(sun_dir.z, 0.0), 0.1)
         ),
         SKY_DAY_MID,
         max(-sun_dir.z, 0)
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ vec3 get_sky_light(vec3 dir, float time_of_day, bool with_stars) {
         mix(
             SKY_DUSK_BOT,
             SKY_NIGHT_BOT,
-            max(pow(sun_dir.z, 0.2), 0)
+            pow(max(sun_dir.z, 0.0), 0.2)
         ),
         SKY_DAY_BOT,
         max(-sun_dir.z, 0)