diff --git a/input/input.c b/input/input.c
index eb25eb0af3..ffd599b1ce 100644
--- a/input/input.c
+++ b/input/input.c
@@ -914,11 +914,14 @@ mp_input_read_key_code(int time) {
   fd_set fds;
   struct timeval tv,*time_val;
 #endif
-  int i,n=0,max_fd = 0;
+  int i,n=0,max_fd = 0, did_sleep = 0;
   static int last_loop = 0;
 
   if(num_key_fd == 0)
+  {
+    usec_sleep(time * 1000);
     return MP_INPUT_NOTHING;
+  }
 
 #ifndef HAVE_NO_POSIX_SELECT
   FD_ZERO(&fds);
@@ -940,9 +943,6 @@ mp_input_read_key_code(int time) {
     n++;
   }
 
-  if(num_key_fd == 0)
-    return MP_INPUT_NOTHING;
-
 #ifndef HAVE_NO_POSIX_SELECT
 // if we have fd's without MP_FD_NO_SELECT flag, call select():
 if(n>0){
@@ -962,6 +962,7 @@ if(n>0){
     }
     break;
   }
+  did_sleep = 1;
 
 }
 #endif
@@ -984,6 +985,7 @@ if(n>0){
       code = getch2(time);
       if(code < 0)
 	code = MP_INPUT_NOTHING;
+      did_sleep = 1;
     }
     else
       code = ((mp_key_func_t)key_fds[i].read_func)(key_fds[i].fd);
@@ -998,6 +1000,8 @@ if(n>0){
       key_fds[i].flags |= MP_FD_DEAD;
     }
   }
+  if (!did_sleep)
+    usec_sleep(time * 1000);
   return MP_INPUT_NOTHING;
 }