diff --git a/collects/macro-debugger/view/gui-util.rkt b/collects/macro-debugger/view/gui-util.rkt
index 0518a369e5..096719469b 100644
--- a/collects/macro-debugger/view/gui-util.rkt
+++ b/collects/macro-debugger/view/gui-util.rkt
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
     (define lock (make-semaphore 1))
 
     (define-syntax-rule (with-lock . body)
-      (dynamic-wind (lambda () (semaphore-wait lock))
+      (dynamic-wind (lambda () (yield lock))
                     (lambda () . body)
                     (lambda () (semaphore-post lock))))
 
@@ -71,7 +71,6 @@
                  (send message set-label msg)
                  (send message enable #t)
                  (show #t)
-                 (sleep/yield NAP-TIME)
                  (set! state 'shown))
                 ((shown)
                  (send message set-label msg))