diff --git a/redbot/cogs/mutes/converters.py b/redbot/cogs/mutes/converters.py
index dbdafd2ad..ac3737d5d 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/mutes/converters.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/mutes/converters.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from datetime import timedelta
 
 from discord.ext.commands.converter import Converter
 from redbot.core import commands
+from redbot.core import i18n
 
 log = logging.getLogger("red.cogs.mutes")
 
@@ -26,6 +27,8 @@ TIME_RE_STRING = r"|".join(
 TIME_RE = re.compile(TIME_RE_STRING, re.I)
 TIME_SPLIT = re.compile(r"t(?:ime)?=")
 
+_ = i18n.Translator("Mutes", __file__)
+
 
 class MuteTime(Converter):
     """
@@ -50,6 +53,11 @@ class MuteTime(Converter):
                 if v:
                     time_data[k] = int(v)
         if time_data:
-            result["duration"] = timedelta(**time_data)
+            try:
+                result["duration"] = timedelta(**time_data)
+            except OverflowError:
+                raise commands.BadArgument(
+                    _("The time provided is too long; use a more reasonable time.")
+                )
         result["reason"] = argument.strip()
         return result