diff --git a/iothread.c b/iothread.c
index 342a23f..a1f9109 100644
--- a/iothread.c
+++ b/iothread.c
@@ -31,21 +31,14 @@
 static void *iothread_run(void *opaque)
 {
     IOThread *iothread = opaque;
-    bool blocking;
 
     qemu_mutex_lock(&iothread->init_done_lock);
     iothread->thread_id = qemu_get_thread_id();
     qemu_cond_signal(&iothread->init_done_cond);
     qemu_mutex_unlock(&iothread->init_done_lock);
 
-    while (!iothread->stopping) {
-        aio_context_acquire(iothread->ctx);
-        blocking = true;
-        while (!iothread->stopping && aio_poll(iothread->ctx, blocking)) {
-            /* Progress was made, keep going */
-            blocking = false;
-        }
-        aio_context_release(iothread->ctx);
+    while (!atomic_read(&iothread->stopping)) {
+        aio_poll(iothread->ctx, true);
     }
     return NULL;
 }