diff --git a/generic_config_updater/services_validator.py b/generic_config_updater/services_validator.py
index f69e870ed657..01bad16d8556 100644
--- a/generic_config_updater/services_validator.py
+++ b/generic_config_updater/services_validator.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import os
+import time
 from .gu_common import genericUpdaterLogging
 
 logger = genericUpdaterLogging.get_logger(title="Service Validator")
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ def _service_restart(svc_name):
             logger.log(logger.LOG_PRIORITY_ERROR,
                     f"Restart failed for {svc_name} rc={rc} after reset; Pause for 10s & retry",
                     print_to_console)
-            os.system("sleep 10s")
+            time.sleep(10)
             rc = os.system(f"systemctl restart {svc_name}")
 
     if rc == 0:
diff --git a/tests/generic_config_updater/service_validator_test.py b/tests/generic_config_updater/service_validator_test.py
index 470e5428a79e..dcfc5a41cc71 100644
--- a/tests/generic_config_updater/service_validator_test.py
+++ b/tests/generic_config_updater/service_validator_test.py
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@ def mock_os_system_call(cmd):
         { "cmd": "systemctl restart rsyslog", "rc": 1 },         # rsyslog restart; fails
         { "cmd": "systemctl reset-failed rsyslog", "rc": 1 },    # reset; failure here just logs
         { "cmd": "systemctl restart rsyslog", "rc": 1 },         # restart again; fails
-        { "cmd": "sleep 10s", "rc": 0 },                         # sleep; rc ignored
         { "cmd": "systemctl restart rsyslog", "rc": 1 },         # restart again; fails
     ]