---
name: "ntp-wait"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "ntp"
version: "4.2.8.p18-6"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ntp-wait"
---

# ntp-wait(1)

Wait for ntpd to stabilize the system clock

## NAME

**ntp-wait** - Wait for ntpd to stabilize the system clock

## SYNOPSIS

**ntp-wait** \[**-flags**\] \[**-flag** \[*value*\]\] \[**--option-name**\[\[=\| \]*value*\]\]

All arguments must be options.

## DESCRIPTION

**ntp-wait** will send at most *num-tries* queries to [`ntpd`(8)](/ntpd/8.md), sleeping for *secs-between-tries* after each status return that says [`ntpd`(8)](/ntpd/8.md) has not yet produced a synchronized and stable system clock.

**ntp-wait** will do this quietly, unless the **-v** flag is provided. This can be useful at boot time, to delay the boot sequence until after *ntpd* *-g* has set the time.

## OPTIONS

- **-n** *number*, **--tries**=*number*

  Number of times to check ntpd. This option takes an integer number as its argument. The default *number* for this option is:\
    100

          The maximum number of times we will check **ntpd** to see if\
           it has been able to synchronize and stabilize the system clock.

- **-s** *secs-between-tries*, **--sleep**=*secs-between-tries*

  How long to sleep between tries. This option takes an integer number as its argument. The default *secs-between-tries* for this option is:\
    6

          We will sleep for *secs-between-tries* after each query\
           of **ntpd** that returns "the time is not yet stable".

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  Be verbose.

          By default, **ntp-wait** is silent.\
           With this option, **ntp-wait** will provide status information.

- **-?**, **--help**

  Display usage information and exit.

- **-!**, **--more-help**

  Pass the extended usage information through a pager.

- **-v** \[{*v\|c\|n* **--version** \[{*v\|c\|n*}\]}\]

  Output version of program and exit.  The default mode is \`v', a simple version.  The \`c' mode will print copyright information and \`n' will print the full copyright notice.

## EXIT STATUS

One of the following exit values will be returned:

- 0 (EXIT\_SUCCESS)

  Successful program execution.

- 1 (EXIT\_FAILURE)

  The operation failed or the command syntax was not valid.

- 70 (EX\_SOFTWARE)

  libopts had an internal operational error.  Please report it to autogen-users@lists.sourceforge.net.  Thank you.

## AUTHORS

Harlan Stenn\

## NOTES

This document corresponds to version 4.2.8p18 of NTP.

This manual page was *AutoGen*-erated from the **ntp-wait** option definitions.