diff --git a/mt3/run_length_encoding.py b/mt3/run_length_encoding.py
index 0a88013..76d418c 100644
--- a/mt3/run_length_encoding.py
+++ b/mt3/run_length_encoding.py
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ def decode_events(
       continue
     if event.type == 'shift':
       cur_steps += event.value
-      cur_time = start_time + cur_steps / codec.steps_per_second
+      cur_time = state.current_time + cur_steps / codec.steps_per_second
       if max_time and cur_time > max_time:
         dropped_events = len(tokens) - token_idx
         break