diff --git a/Modules/_multiprocessing/pipe_connection.c b/Modules/_multiprocessing/pipe_connection.c
--- a/Modules/_multiprocessing/pipe_connection.c
+++ b/Modules/_multiprocessing/pipe_connection.c
@@ -92,9 +92,8 @@
 static int
 conn_poll(ConnectionObject *conn, double timeout, PyThreadState *_save)
 {
-    DWORD bytes, deadline, delay;
-    int difference, res;
-    BOOL block = FALSE;
+    DWORD bytes, rslt;
+    HANDLE handles[2] = { NULL };
 
     if (!PeekNamedPipe(conn->handle, NULL, 0, NULL, &bytes, NULL))
         return MP_STANDARD_ERROR;
@@ -103,40 +102,30 @@
         return bytes > 0;
 
     if (timeout < 0.0)
-        block = TRUE;
+        timeout = INFINITE;
     else
-        /* XXX does not check for overflow */
-        deadline = GetTickCount() + (DWORD)(1000 * timeout + 0.5);
+        timeout *= 1000; /* timeout given in seconds, needs milliseconds */
 
-    Sleep(0);
+    handles[0] = conn->handle;
+    handles[1] = sigint_event;
 
-    for (delay = 1 ; ; delay += 1) {
-        if (!PeekNamedPipe(conn->handle, NULL, 0, NULL, &bytes, NULL))
-            return MP_STANDARD_ERROR;
-        else if (bytes > 0)
-            return TRUE;
+    /* Note: The GIL was already yielded in our caller, connection_poll.
+       Return when either the pipe is ready or CTRL-C occurred. */
+    rslt = WaitForMultipleObjects(2, handles, FALSE, timeout);
 
-        if (!block) {
-            difference = deadline - GetTickCount();
-            if (difference < 0)
-                return FALSE;
-            if ((int)delay > difference)
-                delay = difference;
-        }
-
-        if (delay > 20)
-            delay = 20;
-
-        Sleep(delay);
-
-        /* check for signals */
-        Py_BLOCK_THREADS
-        res = PyErr_CheckSignals();
-        Py_UNBLOCK_THREADS
-
-        if (res)
+    switch (rslt) {
+        case WAIT_OBJECT_0: /* Pipe is ready. */
+            if (!PeekNamedPipe(conn->handle, NULL, 0, NULL, &bytes, NULL))
+                return MP_STANDARD_ERROR;
+            else if (bytes > 0)
+                return TRUE;
+            break;
+        case WAIT_OBJECT_0 + 1: /* CTRL-C was signaled. */
             return MP_EXCEPTION_HAS_BEEN_SET;
+        case WAIT_TIMEOUT:
+            return FALSE;
     }
+    return FALSE;
 }
 
 /*