diff --git a/src/neopixel.c b/src/neopixel.c
index bbea09f8..e7890a06 100644
--- a/src/neopixel.c
+++ b/src/neopixel.c
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 
 typedef unsigned int neopixel_time_t;
 
-static neopixel_time_t
+static __always_inline neopixel_time_t
 nsecs_to_ticks(uint32_t ns)
 {
     return timer_from_us(ns * 1000) / 1000000;