diff --git a/lockfile.c b/lockfile.c
index 3f5b699cf7..fb78bda495 100644
--- a/lockfile.c
+++ b/lockfile.c
@@ -157,14 +157,6 @@ static int lock_file(struct lock_file *lk, const char *path, int flags)
 	return lk->fd;
 }
 
-static int sleep_microseconds(long us)
-{
-	struct timeval tv;
-	tv.tv_sec = 0;
-	tv.tv_usec = us;
-	return select(0, NULL, NULL, NULL, &tv);
-}
-
 /*
  * Constants defining the gaps between attempts to lock a file. The
  * first backoff period is approximately INITIAL_BACKOFF_MS
@@ -214,7 +206,7 @@ static int lock_file_timeout(struct lock_file *lk, const char *path,
 		backoff_ms = multiplier * INITIAL_BACKOFF_MS;
 		/* back off for between 0.75*backoff_ms and 1.25*backoff_ms */
 		wait_ms = (750 + rand() % 500) * backoff_ms / 1000;
-		sleep_microseconds(wait_ms*1000);
+		sleep_millisec(wait_ms);
 		remaining_ms -= wait_ms;
 
 		/* Recursion: (n+1)^2 = n^2 + 2n + 1 */