diff --git a/speedclock.h b/speedclock.h
index 6dc4539..b81740e 100644
--- a/speedclock.h
+++ b/speedclock.h
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ void set_state_LEDs(timer_state_e state, boolean warn);
 void startSequence(void);
 void update_statemessage(timer_state_e timer_state);
 void failSequence(void);
+void wait(unsigned long ms);
 #endif
 
 
diff --git a/speedclock.ino b/speedclock.ino
index 35c42fe..56003ce 100644
--- a/speedclock.ino
+++ b/speedclock.ino
@@ -467,25 +467,25 @@ void startSequence(void)
   // this is sequence of usually three tones after a wait time 1sec , in between the tones there is also a delay of 1 sec. Each tone is 200ms seconds long, except the last 
   update_statemessage(timer_new_state);
   if(timer_new_state == TIMER_RUNNING){
-    delay(STARTSEQ_STARTPAUSE_MS);
+    wait(STARTSEQ_STARTPAUSE_MS);
   }
   // first tone
   update_statemessage(timer_new_state);
   if(timer_new_state == TIMER_RUNNING){  
     tone(PIEZO_PIN, STARTSEQ_TON_1_2_FREQUENCY,STARTSEQ_TON_1_2_LENGTH_MS );
-    delay(STARTSEQ_TONEPAUSE_MS);
+    wait(STARTSEQ_TONEPAUSE_MS);
   }
   //second tone
   update_statemessage(timer_new_state);
   if(timer_new_state == TIMER_RUNNING){
     tone(PIEZO_PIN, STARTSEQ_TON_1_2_FREQUENCY,STARTSEQ_TON_1_2_LENGTH_MS );
-    delay(STARTSEQ_TONEPAUSE_MS);
+    wait(STARTSEQ_TONEPAUSE_MS);
   }
   //third tone
   update_statemessage(timer_new_state);
   if(timer_new_state == TIMER_RUNNING){
     tone(PIEZO_PIN, STARTSEQ_TON_3_FREQUENCY,STARTSEQ_TON_3_LENGTH_MS );
-    delay(STARTSEQ_TON_3_LENGTH_MS);
+    wait(STARTSEQ_TON_3_LENGTH_MS);
   }
 }
 
@@ -519,3 +519,13 @@ void false_start_isr(void)
     }
   }
 }
+
+void wait(unsigned long ms){
+   unsigned long current = 0;
+   unsigned long started = millis();
+   do{
+    current = millis()-started;
+   }while(current < ms);
+}
+
+