diff --git a/Lib/test/datetimetester.py b/Lib/test/datetimetester.py
--- a/Lib/test/datetimetester.py
+++ b/Lib/test/datetimetester.py
@@ -981,16 +981,16 @@
                               insane)
 
     def test_today(self):
-        import time
+        from time import time
 
         # We claim that today() is like fromtimestamp(time.time()), so
         # prove it.
         for dummy in range(3):
             today = self.theclass.today()
-            ts = time.time()
+            ts = time()
             todayagain = self.theclass.fromtimestamp(ts)
             if today == todayagain:
-                break
+                return  # test passed
             # There are several legit reasons that could fail:
             # 1. It recently became midnight, between the today() and the
             #    time() calls.
@@ -1000,13 +1000,13 @@
             #    happened to call today() right before a resolution quantum
             #    boundary.
             # 4. The system clock got fiddled between calls.
-            # In any case, wait a little while and try again.
-            time.sleep(0.1)
-
-        # It worked or it didn't.  If it didn't, assume it's reason #2, and
-        # let the test pass if they're within half a second of each other.
-        self.assertTrue(today == todayagain or
-                        abs(todayagain - today) < timedelta(seconds=0.5))
+            # In any case, try again.
+
+        # If we get here it means that we couldn't get them to be equal even
+        # after a few attempts, so assume it's reason #2, and let the test
+        # pass if they're within half a second of each other.
+        self.assertLess(abs(todayagain - today), timedelta(seconds=0.5),
+                        '\ntodayagain: %r\ntoday     : %r' % (todayagain, today))
 
     def test_weekday(self):
         for i in range(7):