diff --git a/io/channel-command.c b/io/channel-command.c
index 598fdab5a3..a220fe886b 100644
--- a/io/channel-command.c
+++ b/io/channel-command.c
@@ -179,6 +179,7 @@ static int qio_channel_command_abort(QIOChannelCommand *ioc,
                        (unsigned long long)ioc->pid);
             return -1;
         }
+        step++;
         usleep(10 * 1000);
         goto rewait;
     }