diff --git a/src/radical/utils/zmq/pubsub.py b/src/radical/utils/zmq/pubsub.py
index 606a935f..9faf0157 100644
--- a/src/radical/utils/zmq/pubsub.py
+++ b/src/radical/utils/zmq/pubsub.py
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ def _bridge_initialize(self):
         self._log.info('       sub on  %s: %s', self._uid, self._addr_sub)
 
         # make sure bind is active
-        time.sleep(0.1)
+        time.sleep(0.01)
 
         # start polling for messages
         self._poll = zmq.Poller()
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ def __init__(self, channel, url=None, log=None, prof=None, path=None):
         self._socket.hwm    = _HIGH_WATER_MARK
         self._socket.connect(self._url)
 
-        time.sleep(0.1)
+        time.sleep(0.01)
 
 
     # --------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ def __init__(self, channel, url=None, topic=None, cb=None,
         self._sock.hwm    = _HIGH_WATER_MARK
         self._sock.connect(self._url)
 
-        time.sleep(0.1)
+        time.sleep(0.01)
 
         # only allow `get()` and `get_nowait()`
         self._interactive = True
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ def work_pub(uid, n, delay):
     t_a.join()
     t_b.join()
 
-    time.sleep(0.1)
+    time.sleep(0.01)
 
     assert data['A']['A'] == c_a
     assert data['B']['B'] == c_b
diff --git a/src/radical/utils/zmq/queue.py b/src/radical/utils/zmq/queue.py
index c519050c..d255f8f0 100644
--- a/src/radical/utils/zmq/queue.py
+++ b/src/radical/utils/zmq/queue.py
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ def _bridge_work(self):
                     # We don't want to use poll timouts since we use two
                     # competing polls and don't want the idle channel slow down
                     # the busy one.
-                    time.sleep(0.1)
+                    time.sleep(0.01)
 
         except Exception:
             self._log.exception('bridge failed')
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ def _listener(url, qname=None, uid=None):
             qname = 'default'
 
         assert url in Getter._callbacks
-        time.sleep(0.1)
+        time.sleep(0.01)
 
         try:
             term = Getter._callbacks.get(url, {}).get('term')
@@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ def work_pub(uid, n, delay):
     t_a.join()
     t_b.join()
 
-    time.sleep(0.1)
+    time.sleep(0.01)
 
     import pprint
     pprint.pprint(data)