diff --git a/src/safepoint.c b/src/safepoint.c
index 961586372611ac..cb6d9247c0d0f5 100644
--- a/src/safepoint.c
+++ b/src/safepoint.c
@@ -255,16 +255,15 @@ void jl_safepoint_wait_pmark(void)
 
 void jl_safepoint_wait_sweeping(void)
 {
-    jl_cpu_pause();
+    while (jl_atomic_load_relaxed(&jl_gc_running) ||
+           jl_atomic_load_acquire(&jl_gc_running))
+        jl_cpu_pause();
 }
 
 void jl_safepoint_wait_gc(void)
 {
-    while (jl_atomic_load_relaxed(&jl_gc_running) ||
-           jl_atomic_load_acquire(&jl_gc_running)) {
-    	jl_safepoint_wait_pmark();
-    	jl_safepoint_wait_sweeping();
-    }
+    jl_safepoint_wait_pmark();
+    jl_safepoint_wait_sweeping();
 }
 
 void jl_safepoint_enable_sigint(void)