diff --git a/src/machine/machine_rp2040.go b/src/machine/machine_rp2040.go
index dd8b5c70..4b18368e 100644
--- a/src/machine/machine_rp2040.go
+++ b/src/machine/machine_rp2040.go
@@ -86,6 +86,11 @@ func ticks() uint64 {
 	return timer.timeElapsed()
 }
 
+//go:linkname lightSleep runtime.machineLightSleep
+func lightSleep(ticks uint64) {
+	timer.lightSleep(ticks)
+}
+
 // UART pins
 const (
 	UART_TX_PIN  = UART0_TX_PIN
diff --git a/src/machine/machine_rp2040_timer.go b/src/machine/machine_rp2040_timer.go
index 1ebe2130..9396d68a 100644
--- a/src/machine/machine_rp2040_timer.go
+++ b/src/machine/machine_rp2040_timer.go
@@ -4,13 +4,23 @@
 package machine
 
 import (
+	"device/arm"
 	"device/rp"
+	"runtime/interrupt"
 	"runtime/volatile"
 	"unsafe"
 )
 
 const numTimers = 4
 
+// Alarm0 is reserved for sleeping by tinygo runtime code for RP2040.
+// Alarm0 is also IRQ0
+const sleepAlarm = 0
+const sleepAlarmIRQ = 0
+
+// The minimum sleep duration in μs (ticks)
+const minSleep = 10
+
 type timerType struct {
 	timeHW   volatile.Register32
 	timeLW   volatile.Register32
@@ -50,3 +60,47 @@ func (tmr *timerType) timeElapsed() (us uint64) {
 	}
 	return uint64(hi)<<32 | uint64(lo)
 }
+
+// lightSleep will put the processor into a sleep state a short period
+// (up to approx 72mins per RP2040 datasheet, 4.6.3. Alarms).
+//
+// This function is a 'light' sleep and will return early if another
+// interrupt or event triggers.  This is intentional since the
+// primary use-case is for use by the TinyGo scheduler which will
+// re-sleep if needed.
+func (tmr *timerType) lightSleep(us uint64) {
+	// minSleep is a way to avoid race conditions for short
+	// sleeps by ensuring there is enough time to setup the
+	// alarm before sleeping.  For very short sleeps, this
+	// effectively becomes a 'busy loop'.
+	if us < minSleep {
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Interrupt handler is essentially a no-op, we're just relying
+	// on the side-effect of waking the CPU from "wfe"
+	intr := interrupt.New(sleepAlarmIRQ, func(interrupt.Interrupt) {
+		// Clear the IRQ
+		timer.intR.Set(1 << sleepAlarm)
+	})
+
+	// Reset interrupt flag
+	tmr.intR.Set(1 << sleepAlarm)
+
+	// Enable interrupt
+	tmr.intE.SetBits(1 << sleepAlarm)
+	intr.Enable()
+
+	// Only the low 32 bits of time can be used for alarms
+	target := uint64(tmr.timeRawL.Get()) + us
+	tmr.alarm[sleepAlarm].Set(uint32(target))
+
+	// Wait for sleep (or any other) interrupt
+	arm.Asm("wfe")
+
+	// Disarm timer
+	tmr.armed.Set(1 << sleepAlarm)
+
+	// Disable interrupt
+	intr.Disable()
+}
diff --git a/src/runtime/runtime_rp2040.go b/src/runtime/runtime_rp2040.go
index 1de9dd08..0d4db365 100644
--- a/src/runtime/runtime_rp2040.go
+++ b/src/runtime/runtime_rp2040.go
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ import (
 // machineTicks is provided by package machine.
 func machineTicks() uint64
 
+// machineLightSleep is provided by package machine.
+func machineLightSleep(uint64)
+
 type timeUnit uint64
 
 // ticks returns the number of ticks (microseconds) elapsed since power up.
@@ -32,6 +35,16 @@ func sleepTicks(d timeUnit) {
 	if d == 0 {
 		return
 	}
+
+	if hasScheduler {
+		// With scheduler, sleepTicks may return early if an interrupt or
+		// event fires - so scheduler can schedule any go routines now
+		// eligible to run
+		machineLightSleep(uint64(d))
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Busy loop
 	sleepUntil := ticks() + d
 	for ticks() < sleepUntil {
 	}