diff --git a/etc/defaults/periodic.conf b/etc/defaults/periodic.conf
index 801733301318..64d9ba487e10 100644
--- a/etc/defaults/periodic.conf
+++ b/etc/defaults/periodic.conf
@@ -141,6 +141,8 @@ daily_status_mail_rejects_shorten="NO"			# Shorten output
 
 # 480.leapfile-ntpd
 daily_ntpd_leapfile_enable="YES"			# Fetch NTP leapfile
+daily_ntpd_leapfile_background="NO"			# Fetch NTP leapfile
+							# in the background
 
 # 480.status-ntpd
 daily_status_ntpd_enable="NO"				# Check NTP status
diff --git a/etc/periodic/daily/480.leapfile-ntpd b/etc/periodic/daily/480.leapfile-ntpd
index 6b2a1f33f1b7..812ba610567b 100755
--- a/etc/periodic/daily/480.leapfile-ntpd
+++ b/etc/periodic/daily/480.leapfile-ntpd
@@ -13,8 +13,15 @@ fi
 
 case "$daily_ntpd_leapfile_enable" in
     [Yy][Ee][Ss])
-        anticongestion
-        service ntpd onefetch
+	case "$daily_ntpd_leapfile_background" in
+	[Yy][Ee][Ss])
+	    (anticongestion && service ntpd onefetch) &
+	    ;;
+	*)
+	    anticongestion
+	    service ntpd onefetch
+	    ;;
+	esac
         ;;
 esac