diff --git a/artiq/coredevice/sawg.py b/artiq/coredevice/sawg.py
index e3ff38c03..50623d8ea 100644
--- a/artiq/coredevice/sawg.py
+++ b/artiq/coredevice/sawg.py
@@ -352,20 +352,21 @@ class SAWG:
         self.config.set_out_min(-1.)
         self.config.set_out_max(1.)
         self.frequency0.set_mu(0)
-        delay_mu(self.core.ref_multiplier)
+        coarse_cycle = int64(self.core.ref_multiplier)
+        delay_mu(coarse_cycle)
         self.frequency1.set_mu(0)
-        delay_mu(self.core.ref_multiplier)
+        delay_mu(coarse_cycle)
         self.frequency2.set_mu(0)
-        delay_mu(self.core.ref_multiplier)
+        delay_mu(coarse_cycle)
         self.phase0.set_mu(0)
-        delay_mu(self.core.ref_multiplier)
+        delay_mu(coarse_cycle)
         self.phase1.set_mu(0)
-        delay_mu(self.core.ref_multiplier)
+        delay_mu(coarse_cycle)
         self.phase2.set_mu(0)
-        delay_mu(self.core.ref_multiplier)
+        delay_mu(coarse_cycle)
         self.amplitude1.set_mu(0)
-        delay_mu(self.core.ref_multiplier)
+        delay_mu(coarse_cycle)
         self.amplitude2.set_mu(0)
-        delay_mu(self.core.ref_multiplier)
+        delay_mu(coarse_cycle)
         self.offset.set_mu(0)
-        delay_mu(self.core.ref_multiplier)
+        delay_mu(coarse_cycle)