diff --git a/alsactl/lock.c b/alsactl/lock.c
index 4a48539..05f6e4d 100644
--- a/alsactl/lock.c
+++ b/alsactl/lock.c
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ static int state_lock_(const char *file, int lock, int timeout, int _fd)
 			if (fd < 0) {
 				if (errno == EBUSY || errno == EAGAIN) {
 					sleep(1);
-					timeout--;
 				} else {
 					err = -errno;
 					goto out;