diff --git a/src/devices/cpu/m6800/m6801.cpp b/src/devices/cpu/m6800/m6801.cpp
index 8e44e9c40a5..260333574a6 100644
--- a/src/devices/cpu/m6800/m6801.cpp
+++ b/src/devices/cpu/m6800/m6801.cpp
@@ -898,8 +898,20 @@ void hd6301x_cpu_device::increment_counter(int amount)
 
 void m6801_cpu_device::eat_cycles()
 {
-	while (m_icount > 0)
-		increment_counter(1);
+	int cycles_to_eat = std::min(int(m_timer_next - CTD), m_icount);
+	if (cycles_to_eat > 0)
+		increment_counter(cycles_to_eat);
+}
+
+void hd6301x_cpu_device::eat_cycles()
+{
+	if (BIT(m_tcsr3, 4))
+	{
+		while (m_icount > 0 && m_wai_state & (M6800_WAI | M6800_SLP))
+			increment_counter(1);
+	}
+	else
+		m6801_cpu_device::eat_cycles();
 }
 
 /* cleanup high-word of counters */
diff --git a/src/devices/cpu/m6800/m6801.h b/src/devices/cpu/m6800/m6801.h
index aa1518487ff..12d618856c2 100644
--- a/src/devices/cpu/m6800/m6801.h
+++ b/src/devices/cpu/m6800/m6801.h
@@ -400,6 +400,7 @@ protected:
 	virtual void check_irq2() override;
 	virtual void set_timer_event() override;
 	virtual void modified_counters() override;
+	virtual void eat_cycles() override;
 	virtual void increment_counter(int amount) override;
 	virtual void check_timer_event() override;
 	virtual void cleanup_counters() override;