diff --git a/tests/basic/timeout_config.inc b/tests/basic/timeout_config.inc
index 3bd9eeaa708..5cd156f471f 100644
--- a/tests/basic/timeout_config.inc
+++ b/tests/basic/timeout_config.inc
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 
 $t = 3;
 
-function busy_wait($how_long)
-{
-	$until = microtime(TRUE) + $how_long;
-
-	while ($until > microtime(TRUE));
+function busy_wait($how_long) {
+    $until = microtime(true) + $how_long;
+    do {
+        for ($i = 0; $i < 1000000; $i++);
+    } while ($until > microtime(true));
 }