diff --git a/usr/lib/byobu/.shutil b/usr/lib/byobu/.shutil
index e98f7f54..a7c04478 100755
--- a/usr/lib/byobu/.shutil
+++ b/usr/lib/byobu/.shutil
@@ -269,9 +269,7 @@ status_freq() {
 }
 
 get_now() {
-	if [ -n "${BASH_VERSION}" ] && [ -n "${SECONDS}" ]; then
-		_RET=${SECONDS}
-	elif [ -r /proc/uptime ]; then
+	if [ -r /proc/uptime ]; then
 		# return the integer part of the first item in /proc/uptime
 		local s c
 		read s c < /proc/uptime