diff --git a/libbb/bb_do_delay.c b/libbb/bb_do_delay.c
index 3d52cc562..139dc1878 100644
--- a/libbb/bb_do_delay.c
+++ b/libbb/bb_do_delay.c
@@ -13,10 +13,9 @@ void FAST_FUNC bb_do_delay(int seconds)
 {
 	time_t start, now;
 
-	time(&start);
-	now = start;
-	while (difftime(now, start) < seconds) {
+	start = time(NULL);
+	do {
 		sleep(seconds);
-		time(&now);
-	}
+		now = time(NULL);
+	} while ((now - start) < seconds);
 }