diff --git a/gunicorn/workers/sync.py b/gunicorn/workers/sync.py
index b57f28b9..06de9f6e 100644
--- a/gunicorn/workers/sync.py
+++ b/gunicorn/workers/sync.py
@@ -26,11 +26,6 @@ class SyncWorker(base.Worker):
         for s in self.sockets:
             s.setblocking(0)
 
-        if not self.timeout:
-            # if no timeout is given the worker will never wait and will
-            # use the CPU for nothing. This minimal timeout prevent it.
-            self.timeout = 0.5
-
         ready = self.sockets
         while self.alive:
             self.notify()
@@ -64,7 +59,12 @@ class SyncWorker(base.Worker):
 
             try:
                 self.notify()
-                ret = select.select(self.sockets, [], self.PIPE, self.timeout)
+
+                # if no timeout is given the worker will never wait and will
+                # use the CPU for nothing. This minimal timeout prevent it.
+                timeout = self.timeout or 0.5
+
+                ret = select.select(self.sockets, [], self.PIPE, timeout)
                 if ret[0]:
                     ready = ret[0]
                     continue