diff --git a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/assignment/TransitRegionStateProcedure.java b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/assignment/TransitRegionStateProcedure.java
index 09763c7d80c6..65431db3561a 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/assignment/TransitRegionStateProcedure.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/assignment/TransitRegionStateProcedure.java
@@ -228,9 +228,7 @@ private void checkAndWaitForOriginalServer(ServerName lastHost)
     long retries = 0;
     while (!isOnline && retries < forceRegionRetainmentRetries) {
       try {
-        synchronized (this) {
-          wait(forceRegionRetainmentWait);
-        }
+        Thread.sleep(forceRegionRetainmentWait);
       } catch (InterruptedException e) {
         throw new ProcedureSuspendedException();
       }