diff --git a/drivers/block/swim3.c b/drivers/block/swim3.c
index 20e061c3e023..c74f7b56e7c4 100644
--- a/drivers/block/swim3.c
+++ b/drivers/block/swim3.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include <linux/mutex.h>
 #include <linux/module.h>
 #include <linux/spinlock.h>
+#include <linux/wait.h>
 #include <asm/io.h>
 #include <asm/dbdma.h>
 #include <asm/prom.h>
@@ -840,14 +841,17 @@ static int grab_drive(struct floppy_state *fs, enum swim_state state,
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&swim3_lock, flags);
 	if (fs->state != idle && fs->state != available) {
 		++fs->wanted;
-		while (fs->state != available) {
+		/* this will enable irqs in order to sleep */
+		if (!interruptible)
+			wait_event_lock_irq(fs->wait,
+                                        fs->state == available,
+                                        swim3_lock);
+		else if (wait_event_interruptible_lock_irq(fs->wait,
+					fs->state == available,
+					swim3_lock)) {
+			--fs->wanted;
 			spin_unlock_irqrestore(&swim3_lock, flags);
-			if (interruptible && signal_pending(current)) {
-				--fs->wanted;
-				return -EINTR;
-			}
-			interruptible_sleep_on(&fs->wait);
-			spin_lock_irqsave(&swim3_lock, flags);
+			return -EINTR;
 		}
 		--fs->wanted;
 	}