diff --git a/src/common/otherTools.cpp b/src/common/otherTools.cpp
index b0b93ed36..355b672b0 100644
--- a/src/common/otherTools.cpp
+++ b/src/common/otherTools.cpp
@@ -18,3 +18,11 @@
  */
 
 #include "otherTools.h"
+
+void kiwix::sleep(unsigned int milliseconds) {
+#ifdef _WIN32
+      Sleep(milliseconds);
+#else
+      sleep(1000 * milliseconds);
+#endif
+}
diff --git a/src/common/otherTools.h b/src/common/otherTools.h
index a247a4b0b..d2fe5d795 100644
--- a/src/common/otherTools.h
+++ b/src/common/otherTools.h
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 
 namespace kiwix {
 
+  void sleep(unsigned int milliseconds);
+
 }
 
 #endif