diff --git a/src/system/libroot/posix/unistd/sleep.c b/src/system/libroot/posix/unistd/sleep.c
index b070eb8b00..621b9b0d7c 100644
--- a/src/system/libroot/posix/unistd/sleep.c
+++ b/src/system/libroot/posix/unistd/sleep.c
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ sleep(unsigned seconds)
 
 	err = snooze_until(start + usecs, B_SYSTEM_TIMEBASE);
 	if (err)
-		return (unsigned)((system_time() - start) / 1000000);
+		return seconds - (unsigned)((system_time() - start) / 1000000);
 
 	return 0;
 }