diff --git a/tests/lib/sync-waiting-test.cpp b/tests/lib/sync-waiting-test.cpp
index 5e54262e4..05fe56e7c 100644
--- a/tests/lib/sync-waiting-test.cpp
+++ b/tests/lib/sync-waiting-test.cpp
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ namespace lib {
             ASSERT (pong);
             ASSERT (0 == tok.result());
             
-            sleep (1); // if the threads don't block correctly, they've missed their chance by now... 
+            usleep (100000); // if the threads don't block correctly, they've missed their chance by now... 
             
             // kick off the notification cascade...
             uint val = (rand() % 1000);
diff --git a/tests/lib/thread-wrapper-join-test.cpp b/tests/lib/thread-wrapper-join-test.cpp
index 97f6e0c0e..5c87e3a65 100644
--- a/tests/lib/thread-wrapper-join-test.cpp
+++ b/tests/lib/thread-wrapper-join-test.cpp
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ namespace lib {
         void
         theAction (int secretValue)   ///< to be run in a new thread...
           {
-            sleep(1);
+            usleep (100000);           // pause 100ms prior to modifying
             aValue_ =  secretValue+42;
           }
         
diff --git a/tests/lib/thread-wrapper-test.cpp b/tests/lib/thread-wrapper-test.cpp
index 0183cf391..4d08150ed 100644
--- a/tests/lib/thread-wrapper-test.cpp
+++ b/tests/lib/thread-wrapper-test.cpp
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ namespace lib {
             sum = checksum = 0;
             TestThread instances[NUM_THREADS]    SIDEEFFECT;
             
-            sleep (1); /////////////////TODO better method of waiting for the threads to terminate..... 
+            usleep (200000);  // pause 200ms for the threads to terminate..... 
             
             ASSERT (0 < sum);
             ASSERT (sum==checksum);