diff --git a/panda/src/particlesystem/pointParticle.cxx b/panda/src/particlesystem/pointParticle.cxx
index 02f334929a..e9a76d719e 100644
--- a/panda/src/particlesystem/pointParticle.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/particlesystem/pointParticle.cxx
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 // Description : simple constructor
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 PointParticle::
-PointParticle(int lifespan, bool alive) :
+PointParticle(float lifespan, bool alive) :
   BaseParticle(lifespan, alive) {
   set_oriented(false);
 }
diff --git a/panda/src/particlesystem/pointParticle.h b/panda/src/particlesystem/pointParticle.h
index 224913d310..7a025df4fc 100644
--- a/panda/src/particlesystem/pointParticle.h
+++ b/panda/src/particlesystem/pointParticle.h
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 class EXPCL_PANDAPHYSICS PointParticle : public BaseParticle {
 public:
-  PointParticle(int lifespan = 0, bool alive = false);
+  PointParticle(float lifespan = 0.0f, bool alive = false);
   PointParticle(const PointParticle &copy);
   virtual ~PointParticle();