diff --git a/library/timing.c b/library/timing.c
index 6df137d..35d6d89 100644
--- a/library/timing.c
+++ b/library/timing.c
@@ -278,6 +278,14 @@
 {
     DWORD ThreadId;
 
+    if( seconds == 0 )
+    {
+        /* No need to create a thread for this simple case.
+         * Also, this shorcut is more reliable at least on MinGW32 */
+        mbedtls_timing_alarmed = 1;
+        return;
+    }
+
     mbedtls_timing_alarmed = 0;
     alarmMs = seconds * 1000;
     CloseHandle( CreateThread( NULL, 0, TimerProc, NULL, 0, &ThreadId ) );