diff --git a/src/extension/select_eventloop.c b/src/extension/select_eventloop.c
index 7855c21d..3311669b 100644
--- a/src/extension/select_eventloop.c
+++ b/src/extension/select_eventloop.c
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ select_eventloop_run_once(getdns_eventloop *loop, int blocking)
 	} else {
 #endif
 	if (select(max_fd + 1, &readfds, &writefds, NULL,
-	    (timeout == TIMEOUT_FOREVER ? NULL : &tv)) < 0) {
+		   ((blocking && timeout == TIMEOUT_FOREVER) ? NULL : &tv)) < 0) {
 		if (_getdns_socketerror_wants_retry())
 			return;