diff --git a/plugins/talks.py b/plugins/talks.py
index 0864022..231b8d6 100644
--- a/plugins/talks.py
+++ b/plugins/talks.py
@@ -100,6 +100,10 @@ def get_talk_data(talkname):
                      .format(talkname))
         data['duration'] = 50
     data['duration'] = int(data['duration'])
+    if data['duration'] < GRID_STEP:
+        logging.info("Talk <{}> lasts only {} minutes; changing to {}"
+                     .format(talkname, data['duration'], GRID_STEP))
+        data['duration'] = GRID_STEP
     if 'room' not in data:
         logging.warn("Talk <{}> has no `room` field".format(talkname))
     if 'time' not in data or 'day' not in data: