diff --git a/mythtv/libs/libmythbase/mythsignalingtimer.cpp b/mythtv/libs/libmythbase/mythsignalingtimer.cpp
index 083674e9fde..2bb0e70d5ef 100644
--- a/mythtv/libs/libmythbase/mythsignalingtimer.cpp
+++ b/mythtv/libs/libmythbase/mythsignalingtimer.cpp
@@ -48,7 +48,11 @@ void MythSignalingTimer::start(int msec)
         dorun = true;
         MThread::start();
         while (dorun && !running)
+        {
+            locker.unlock();
             usleep(10 * 1000);
+            locker.relock();
+        }
     }
 }