diff --git a/VEX/priv/guest-x86/toIR.c b/VEX/priv/guest-x86/toIR.c
index 8a30b0ac1..2fc51e7d0 100644
--- a/VEX/priv/guest-x86/toIR.c
+++ b/VEX/priv/guest-x86/toIR.c
@@ -11286,8 +11286,14 @@ DisResult disInstr ( /*IN*/  Bool       resteerOK,
       case 0x90:           /* REP NOP (PAUSE) */
          /* a hint to the P4 re spin-wait loop */
          DIP("rep nop (P4 pause)\n");
+#        if 0
+         /* "observe" the hint.  Can cause very long delays, though. */
          jmp_lit(Ijk_Yield, ((Addr32)guest_eip_bbstart)+delta);
          whatNext = Dis_StopHere;
+#        else
+         /* act like it's a no-op */
+         whatNext = Dis_Continue;
+#        endif
          break;
 
 //--       case 0xC3:           /* REP RET */