diff --git a/repos/libports/src/lib/libc/internal/kernel.h b/repos/libports/src/lib/libc/internal/kernel.h
index e140a1b11..e9b07c9d2 100644
--- a/repos/libports/src/lib/libc/internal/kernel.h
+++ b/repos/libports/src/lib/libc/internal/kernel.h
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ struct Libc::Kernel final : Vfs::Io_response_handler,
 			}
 
 			if (!check.suspend() && !_kernel_routine)
-				return 0;
+				return timeout_ms;
 
 			if (timeout_ms > 0)
 				_main_timeout.timeout(timeout_ms);