diff --git a/electrum/onion_message.py b/electrum/onion_message.py
index a98775eb7..2b3c0d70d 100644
--- a/electrum/onion_message.py
+++ b/electrum/onion_message.py
@@ -562,9 +562,9 @@ class OnionMessageManager(Logger):
                 self.logger.debug(f'forward expired {node_id=}')
                 continue
             if scheduled > now():
-                # return to queue
-                self.forward_queue.put_nowait((scheduled, expires, onion_packet, blinding, node_id))
-                await asyncio.sleep(self.SLEEP_DELAY)  # sleep here, as the first queue item wasn't due yet
+                remaining = max(0.0, scheduled - now())
+                item = (scheduled, expires, onion_packet, blinding, node_id)
+                asyncio.get_running_loop().call_later(remaining, self.forward_queue.put_nowait, item)
                 continue
 
             try:
@@ -613,10 +613,12 @@ class OnionMessageManager(Logger):
                 req.future.set_exception(Timeout())
                 continue
             if scheduled > now():
-                # return to queue
-                self.logger.debug(f'return to queue {key=}, {scheduled - now()}')
-                self.send_queue.put_nowait((scheduled, expires, key))
-                await asyncio.sleep(self.SLEEP_DELAY)  # sleep here, as the first queue item wasn't due yet
+                remaining = max(0.0, scheduled - now())
+                self.logger.debug(f'return to queue {key=}, {remaining}')
+                # Schedule the item to be re-added to the queue when it's due.
+                # Using call_later avoids a busy-poll loop (put_nowait + sleep + get)
+                # that can stall under asyncio scheduler pressure.
+                asyncio.get_running_loop().call_later(remaining, self.send_queue.put_nowait, (scheduled, expires, key))
                 continue
             try:
                 self._send_pending_message(key)