diff --git a/include/palerain.h b/include/palerain.h
index 3ede341..749b6a7 100644
--- a/include/palerain.h
+++ b/include/palerain.h
@@ -153,8 +153,6 @@ typedef unsigned char niarelap_file_t[];
 
 extern unsigned int verbose;
 
-pthread_cond_t spin;
-
 extern char* pongo_path;
 #ifdef TUI
 extern bool tui_started;
@@ -174,7 +172,6 @@ extern uint64_t palerain_flags;
 extern pthread_mutex_t log_mutex;
 
 extern pthread_mutex_t spin_mutex, found_pongo_mutex, ecid_dfu_wait_mutex;
-pthread_cond_t spin;
 
 extern int pongo_thr_running, dfuhelper_thr_running;
 extern bool device_has_booted;
@@ -216,8 +213,8 @@ int issue_pongo_command(usb_device_handle_t, char*);
 int tui(void);
 int optparse(int argc, char* argv[]);
 
-bool palerain_unblock(void);
-bool palerain_block(void);
+bool get_spin(void);
+bool set_spin(bool val);
 bool get_found_pongo(void);
 void* pongo_helper(void* _);
 bool set_found_pongo(bool val);
@@ -230,5 +227,4 @@ void io_stop(stuff_t *stuff);
 
 void print_credits(void);
 
-
 #endif
diff --git a/src/dfuhelper.c b/src/dfuhelper.c
index fe47b48..8f4c95a 100644
--- a/src/dfuhelper.c
+++ b/src/dfuhelper.c
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ int connected_normal_mode(const usbmuxd_device_info_t *usbmuxd_device) {
 		printf("DisplayName: %s\n", dev.displayName);
 
 		device_has_booted = true;
-		palerain_unblock();
+		set_spin(0);
 		unsubscribe_cmd();
 		return 0;
 	}
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ int connected_normal_mode(const usbmuxd_device_info_t *usbmuxd_device) {
 	devinfo_free(&dev);
 	if ((palerain_flags & palerain_option_enter_recovery)) {
 		device_has_booted = true;
-		palerain_unblock();
+		set_spin(0);
 		unsubscribe_cmd();
 	}
 	return 0;
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ void* connected_dfu_mode(struct irecv_device_info* info) {
 	if (IS_APPLE_HOME) {
 		step(2, 0, "Put device in upright orientation", NULL, 0);
 	}
-	palerain_unblock();
+	set_spin(0);
 	unsubscribe_cmd();
 	pthread_exit(NULL);
 	return NULL;
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ void device_event_cb(const usbmuxd_event_t *event, void* userdata) {
 			int ret = reboot_cmd(event->device.udid);
 			if (!ret) {
 				LOG(LOG_INFO, "Restarted device");
-				palerain_unblock();
+				set_spin(0);
 				unsubscribe_cmd();
 			}
 			pthread_exit(NULL);
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ void irecv_device_event_cb(const irecv_device_event_t *event, void* userdata) {
 					if (!ret) {
 						LOG(LOG_INFO, "Exited recovery mode");
 						device_has_booted = true;
-						palerain_unblock();
+						set_spin(0);
 						unsubscribe_cmd();
 					} else {
 						LOG(LOG_WARNING, "Could not exit recovery mode");
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ void irecv_device_event_cb(const irecv_device_event_t *event, void* userdata) {
 						printf("DisplayName: %s\n", info.display_name);
 
 						device_has_booted = true;
-						palerain_unblock();
+						set_spin(0);
 						unsubscribe_cmd();
 					}
 					if (dfuhelper_thr_running) pthread_cancel(dfuhelper_thread);
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ void irecv_device_event_cb(const irecv_device_event_t *event, void* userdata) {
 						printf("DisplayName: %s\n", info.display_name);
 
 						device_has_booted = true;
-						palerain_unblock();
+						set_spin(0);
 						unsubscribe_cmd();
 					}
 					if (dfuhelper_thr_running) pthread_cancel(dfuhelper_thread);
@@ -346,8 +346,11 @@ void irecv_device_event_cb(const irecv_device_event_t *event, void* userdata) {
 
 void *dfuhelper(void* ptr) {
 	dfuhelper_thr_running = true;
+	set_spin(1);
 	subscribe_cmd(device_event_cb, irecv_device_event_cb);
-	palerain_block();
+	while (get_spin()) {
+		sleep(1);
+	};
 	dfuhelper_thr_running = false;
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/lock_vars.c b/src/lock_vars.c
index bd6551f..7da4219 100644
--- a/src/lock_vars.c
+++ b/src/lock_vars.c
@@ -30,9 +30,8 @@
 #include <paleinfo.h>
 
 pthread_mutex_t spin_mutex, found_pongo_mutex, ecid_dfu_wait_mutex;
-pthread_cond_t spin;
 
-bool found_pongo = 0;
+bool spin, found_pongo = 0;
 uint64_t ecid_wait_for_dfu = 0;
 
 static bool get_locked_bool(bool* val, pthread_mutex_t* mutex) {
@@ -51,14 +50,12 @@ static bool set_locked_bool(bool* val, bool newval, pthread_mutex_t* mutex) {
     return newval;
 }
 
-bool palerain_block(void) {
-    pthread_mutex_lock(&spin_mutex);
-    pthread_cond_wait(&spin, &spin_mutex);
-    pthread_mutex_unlock(&spin_mutex);
+bool get_spin(void) {
+    return get_locked_bool(&spin, &spin_mutex);
 }
 
-bool palerain_unblock(void) {
-    pthread_cond_broadcast(&spin);
+bool set_spin(bool newval) {
+    return set_locked_bool(&spin, newval, &spin_mutex);
 }
 
 bool get_found_pongo(void) {
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index c737bc3..6477262 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -107,7 +107,6 @@ int palera1n(int argc, char *argv[], char *envp[]) {
 	pthread_mutex_init(&spin_mutex, NULL);
 	pthread_mutex_init(&found_pongo_mutex, NULL);
 	pthread_mutex_init(&ecid_dfu_wait_mutex, NULL);
-	pthread_cond_init(&spin, NULL);
 	if ((ret = build_checks())) return ret;
 	if ((ret = optparse(argc, argv))) goto cleanup;
 	if (!(palerain_flags & palerain_option_device_info) && (palerain_flags & palerain_option_palerain_version)) goto normal_exit;
@@ -141,7 +140,7 @@ int palera1n(int argc, char *argv[], char *envp[]) {
 	pthread_create(&pongo_thread, NULL, pongo_helper, NULL);
 	pthread_create(&dfuhelper_thread, NULL, dfuhelper, NULL);
 	pthread_join(dfuhelper_thread, NULL);
-	palerain_unblock();
+	set_spin(0);
 	if ((palerain_flags & (palerain_option_dfuhelper_only | 
 											  palerain_option_reboot_device  | 
 											  palerain_option_exit_recovery  | 
@@ -155,10 +154,14 @@ int palera1n(int argc, char *argv[], char *envp[]) {
 
 	if ((palerain_flags & (palerain_option_pongo_exit | palerain_option_demote)))
 		goto normal_exit;
+	set_spin(1);
 	sleep(2);
 	pthread_create(&pongo_thread, NULL, pongo_helper, NULL);
 	pthread_join(pongo_thread, NULL);
-	palerain_block();
+	while (get_spin())
+	{
+		sleep(1);
+	}
 normal_exit:
 cleanup:
 	if (override_kpf.magic == OVERRIDE_MAGIC) {
@@ -178,7 +181,6 @@ cleanup:
 	pthread_mutex_destroy(&spin_mutex);
 	pthread_mutex_destroy(&found_pongo_mutex);
 	pthread_mutex_destroy(&ecid_dfu_wait_mutex);
-	pthread_cond_destroy(&spin);
 	return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/pongo_helper.c b/src/pongo_helper.c
index c68e604..cda6673 100644
--- a/src/pongo_helper.c
+++ b/src/pongo_helper.c
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ void* pongo_helper(void* ptr) {
 	pongo_thr_running = 1;
 	pthread_cleanup_push(thr_cleanup, &pongo_thr_running);
 	wait_for_pongo();
-	palerain_block();
+	while (get_spin()) {
+		sleep(1);
+	}
 	pthread_cleanup_pop(1);
 	return NULL;
 }
@@ -139,7 +141,7 @@ done:
 #ifdef USE_LIBUSB
 	libusb_unref_device(arg->dev);
 #endif
-	palerain_unblock();
+	set_spin(0);
 	return NULL;
 }
 
@@ -234,7 +236,7 @@ void io_start(stuff_t *stuff)
     if(r != 0)
     {
         ERR("pthread_create: %s", strerror(r));
-        palerain_unblock();
+        set_spin(0);
 		return;
     }
     pthread_join(stuff->th, NULL);
@@ -246,14 +248,14 @@ void io_stop(stuff_t *stuff)
     if(r != 0)
     {
         ERR("pthread_cancel: %s", strerror(r));
-        palerain_unblock();
+        set_spin(0);
 		return;
     }
     r = pthread_join(stuff->th, NULL);
     if(r != 0)
     {
         ERR("pthread_join: %s", strerror(r));
-        palerain_unblock();
+        set_spin(0);
 		return;
     }
 #ifdef USE_LIBUSB
diff --git a/src/usb_iokit.c b/src/usb_iokit.c
index 2d5bb86..59cf59a 100644
--- a/src/usb_iokit.c
+++ b/src/usb_iokit.c
@@ -245,7 +245,9 @@ int wait_for_pongo(void) {
     }
     LostDevice(&stuff, lost);
     // CFRunLoopRun();
-    palerain_block();
+    while (get_spin()) {
+        sleep(1);
+    }
     CFRelease(cfdict);
     return 0;
 }