diff --git a/include/circ_elem_array.h b/include/circ_elem_array.h
index 95c86be..9ab4f59 100644
--- a/include/circ_elem_array.h
+++ b/include/circ_elem_array.h
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ struct alignas(std::max_align_t) elem_array_head {
     }
 
     auto acquire(void) {
-        for (unsigned k = 0; lc_.exchange(1, std::memory_order_acquire); ++k) {
-            yield(k);
+        while (lc_.exchange(1, std::memory_order_acquire)) {
+            std::this_thread::yield();
         }
         return index_of(wt_.load(std::memory_order_relaxed));
     }
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ public:
     void* acquire(void) {
         elem_t* el = elem(base_t::acquire());
         // check all consumers have finished reading
-        for (unsigned k = 0;; ++k) {
+        while(1) {
             uint_t<32> expected = 0;
             if (el->head_.rc_.compare_exchange_weak(
                         expected,
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ public:
                         std::memory_order_release)) {
                 break;
             }
-            yield(k);
+            std::this_thread::yield();
         }
         return el->data_;
     }
diff --git a/include/def.h b/include/def.h
index 111e7e2..75c673f 100644
--- a/include/def.h
+++ b/include/def.h
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 #include <cstdint>
 #include <limits>
 #include <thread>
-#include <chrono>
 
 namespace ipc {
 
@@ -87,9 +86,7 @@ inline void yield(unsigned k) {
     else
     if (k < 16) { IPC_LOCK_PAUSE_(); }
     else
-    if (k < 32) { std::this_thread::yield(); }
-    else
-    { std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(1)); }
+    { std::this_thread::yield(); }
 }
 
 } // namespace ipc