diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_timer.c b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_timer.c
index 2e2b770fb..c6344ca87 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_timer.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_timer.c
@@ -7,9 +7,11 @@
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
+#include <time.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 
 #include <rte_common.h>
+#include <rte_compat.h>
 #include <rte_log.h>
 #include <rte_cycles.h>
 #include <rte_pause.h>
@@ -31,6 +33,28 @@ rte_delay_us_block(unsigned int us)
 		rte_pause();
 }
 
+void __rte_experimental
+rte_delay_us_sleep(unsigned int us)
+{
+	struct timespec wait[2];
+	int ind = 0;
+
+	wait[0].tv_sec = 0;
+	if (us >= US_PER_S) {
+		wait[0].tv_sec = us / US_PER_S;
+		us -= wait[0].tv_sec * US_PER_S;
+	}
+	wait[0].tv_nsec = 1000 * us;
+
+	while (nanosleep(&wait[ind], &wait[1 - ind]) == EINTR) {
+		/*
+		 * Sleep was interrupted. Flip the index, so the 'remainder'
+		 * will become the 'request' for a next call.
+		 */
+		ind = 1 - ind;
+	}
+}
+
 uint64_t
 rte_get_tsc_hz(void)
 {
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/include/generic/rte_cycles.h b/lib/librte_eal/common/include/generic/rte_cycles.h
index 0ff1af504..ac379e878 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/include/generic/rte_cycles.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/include/generic/rte_cycles.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
  */
 
 #include <stdint.h>
+#include <rte_compat.h>
 #include <rte_debug.h>
 #include <rte_atomic.h>
 
@@ -157,6 +158,16 @@ rte_delay_ms(unsigned ms)
  */
 void rte_delay_us_block(unsigned int us);
 
+/**
+ * Delay function that uses system sleep.
+ * Does not block the CPU core.
+ *
+ * @param us
+ *   Number of microseconds to wait.
+ */
+void __rte_experimental
+rte_delay_us_sleep(unsigned int us);
+
 /**
  * Replace rte_delay_us with user defined function.
  *
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map b/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map
index 73282bbb0..56a1a0520 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map
@@ -277,6 +277,7 @@ EXPERIMENTAL {
 	rte_class_register;
 	rte_class_unregister;
 	rte_ctrl_thread_create;
+	rte_delay_us_sleep;
 	rte_dev_event_callback_register;
 	rte_dev_event_callback_unregister;
 	rte_dev_event_monitor_start;
diff --git a/test/test/autotest_data.py b/test/test/autotest_data.py
index f68d9b111..874d0cb53 100644
--- a/test/test/autotest_data.py
+++ b/test/test/autotest_data.py
@@ -278,6 +278,12 @@
         "Func":    default_autotest,
         "Report":  None,
     },
+    {
+        "Name":    "Sleep delay",
+        "Command": "delay_us_sleep_autotest",
+        "Func":    default_autotest,
+        "Report":  None,
+    },
     {
         "Name":    "Rawdev autotest",
         "Command": "rawdev_autotest",
diff --git a/test/test/meson.build b/test/test/meson.build
index bacb5b144..9eb15d21a 100644
--- a/test/test/meson.build
+++ b/test/test/meson.build
@@ -147,6 +147,7 @@ test_names = [
 	'cryptodev_dpaa_sec_autotest',
 	'cycles_autotest',
 	'debug_autotest',
+	'delay_us_sleep_autotest',
 	'devargs_autotest',
 	'distributor_autotest',
 	'distributor_perf_autotest',
diff --git a/test/test/test_cycles.c b/test/test/test_cycles.c
index 149f60b07..c78e6a5b1 100644
--- a/test/test/test_cycles.c
+++ b/test/test/test_cycles.c
@@ -23,6 +23,30 @@
  *   of cycles is correct with regard to the frequency of the timer.
  */
 
+static int
+check_wait_one_second(void)
+{
+	uint64_t cycles, prev_cycles;
+	uint64_t hz = rte_get_timer_hz();
+	uint64_t max_inc = (hz / 100); /* 10 ms max between 2 reads */
+
+	/* check that waiting 1 second is precise */
+	prev_cycles = rte_get_timer_cycles();
+	rte_delay_us(1000000);
+	cycles = rte_get_timer_cycles();
+
+	if ((uint64_t)(cycles - prev_cycles) > (hz + max_inc)) {
+		printf("delay_us is not accurate: too long\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+	if ((uint64_t)(cycles - prev_cycles) < (hz - max_inc)) {
+		printf("delay_us is not accurate: too short\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static int
 test_cycles(void)
 {
@@ -43,24 +67,23 @@ test_cycles(void)
 		prev_cycles = cycles;
 	}
 
-	/* check that waiting 1 second is precise */
-	prev_cycles = rte_get_timer_cycles();
-	rte_delay_us(1000000);
-	cycles = rte_get_timer_cycles();
+	return check_wait_one_second();
+}
 
-	if ((uint64_t)(cycles - prev_cycles) > (hz + max_inc)) {
-		printf("delay_us is not accurate: too long\n");
-		return -1;
-	}
-	if ((uint64_t)(cycles - prev_cycles) < (hz - max_inc)) {
-		printf("delay_us is not accurate: too short\n");
-		return -1;
-	}
+REGISTER_TEST_COMMAND(cycles_autotest, test_cycles);
 
-	return 0;
+/*
+ * One second precision test with rte_delay_us_sleep.
+ */
+
+static int
+test_delay_us_sleep(void)
+{
+	rte_delay_us_callback_register(rte_delay_us_sleep);
+	return check_wait_one_second();
 }
 
-REGISTER_TEST_COMMAND(cycles_autotest, test_cycles);
+REGISTER_TEST_COMMAND(delay_us_sleep_autotest, test_delay_us_sleep);
 
 /*
  * rte_delay_us_callback test
