diff --git a/core/java/src/gnu/crypto/prng/AsyncFortunaStandalone.java b/core/java/src/gnu/crypto/prng/AsyncFortunaStandalone.java
index 9b3031e8c93122f29d2de4d45eb23b756a28e1fb..e84827389eeb334b3a52e94c0109c2cc0913c535 100644
--- a/core/java/src/gnu/crypto/prng/AsyncFortunaStandalone.java
+++ b/core/java/src/gnu/crypto/prng/AsyncFortunaStandalone.java
@@ -109,7 +109,10 @@ public class AsyncFortunaStandalone extends FortunaStandalone implements Runnabl
                     asyncBuffers.notifyAll();
                 }
                 Thread.yield();
-                try { Thread.sleep((after-before)*5); } catch (InterruptedException ie) {}
+                long waitTime = (after-before)*5;
+                if (waitTime <= 0) // somehow postman saw waitTime show up as negative
+                    waitTime = 50;
+                try { Thread.sleep(waitTime); } catch (InterruptedException ie) {}
             }
         }
     }