diff --git a/service/src/sidechain_setup.rs b/service/src/sidechain_setup.rs
index 7180ae513a..11767aa62a 100644
--- a/service/src/sidechain_setup.rs
+++ b/service/src/sidechain_setup.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ use crate::{
 	parentchain_handler::HandleParentchain,
 	Config,
 };
-use futures::executor::block_on;
 use itp_enclave_api::{
 	direct_request::DirectRequest, enclave_base::EnclaveBase, sidechain::Sidechain,
 };
@@ -90,15 +89,9 @@ where
 	let sidechain_enclave_api = enclave;
 	println!("[+] Spawning thread for sidechain block production");
 	tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
-		let future = start_slot_worker(
-			|| execute_trusted_calls(sidechain_enclave_api.as_ref()),
-			SLOT_DURATION,
-		);
-		block_on(future);
+		start_slot_worker(|| execute_trusted_calls(sidechain_enclave_api.as_ref()), SLOT_DURATION);
 		println!("[!] Sidechain block production loop has terminated");
-	})
-	.await
-	.map_err(|e| Error::Custom(Box::new(e)))?;
+	});
 
 	// ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 	// start sidechain pruning loop
diff --git a/sidechain/consensus/slots/src/slot_stream.rs b/sidechain/consensus/slots/src/slot_stream.rs
index 1c738419bf..358e358865 100644
--- a/sidechain/consensus/slots/src/slot_stream.rs
+++ b/sidechain/consensus/slots/src/slot_stream.rs
@@ -22,18 +22,17 @@
 //! provides generic functionality for slots.
 
 use crate::time_until_next_slot;
-use futures_timer::Delay;
-use std::time::Duration;
+use std::{thread, time::Duration};
 
 /// Executes given `task` repeatedly when the next slot becomes available.
-pub async fn start_slot_worker<F>(task: F, slot_duration: Duration)
+pub fn start_slot_worker<F>(task: F, slot_duration: Duration)
 where
 	F: Fn(),
 {
 	let mut slot_stream = SlotStream::new(slot_duration);
 
 	loop {
-		slot_stream.next_slot().await;
+		slot_stream.next_slot();
 		task();
 	}
 }
@@ -41,7 +40,7 @@ where
 /// Stream to calculate the slot schedule with.
 pub struct SlotStream {
 	slot_duration: Duration,
-	inner_delay: Option<Delay>,
+	inner_delay: Option<std::time::Instant>,
 }
 
 impl SlotStream {
@@ -53,25 +52,18 @@ impl SlotStream {
 impl SlotStream {
 	/// Waits for the duration of `inner_delay`.
 	/// Upon timeout, `inner_delay` is reset according to the time left until next slot.
-	pub async fn next_slot(&mut self) {
-		self.inner_delay = match self.inner_delay.take() {
-			None => {
-				// Delay is not initialized in this case,
-				// so we have to initialize with the time until the next slot.
-				let wait_dur = time_until_next_slot(self.slot_duration);
-				Some(Delay::new(wait_dur))
-			},
-			Some(d) => Some(d),
-		};
-
-		if let Some(inner_delay) = self.inner_delay.take() {
-			inner_delay.await;
+	pub fn next_slot(&mut self) {
+		if let Some(inner_delay) = self.inner_delay {
+			if inner_delay > std::time::Instant::now() {
+				// Sleep until the next slot is available
+				thread::sleep(inner_delay - std::time::Instant::now());
+			}
 		}
 
 		let ends_in = time_until_next_slot(self.slot_duration);
 
 		// Re-schedule delay for next slot.
-		self.inner_delay = Some(Delay::new(ends_in));
+		self.inner_delay = Some(std::time::Instant::now() + ends_in);
 	}
 }