diff --git a/src/stats.c b/src/stats.c
index 590b2bf2..15f94361 100644
--- a/src/stats.c
+++ b/src/stats.c
@@ -461,7 +461,8 @@ static void *_stats_thread(void *arg)
             thread_mutex_unlock(&_global_event_mutex);
         }
 
-        thread_sleep(300000);
+        if(global_event_queue == NULL) /* Only sleep if no events are pending */
+            thread_sleep(300000);
     }
 
     /* wake the other threads so they can shut down cleanly */