diff --git a/alerting/delayed.py b/alerting/delayed.py
index 107f78c..6e42384 100644
--- a/alerting/delayed.py
+++ b/alerting/delayed.py
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ async def handler():
     Checks for new alerts, sends them in 10 seconds
     """
     alert_counts: list[list] = []
-    await asyncio.sleep(10)
     async with handler_lock:
+        await asyncio.sleep(10)
         alert_files = [f for f in os.listdir(str(TMP_DIR)) if f.startswith("alert-")]
         for fname in alert_files:
             fpath = str(TMP_DIR / fname)