diff --git a/rogue3/main.c b/rogue3/main.c
index c85e2a8..33060d9 100644
--- a/rogue3/main.c
+++ b/rogue3/main.c
@@ -374,10 +374,7 @@ setup()
 
     if (!author())
     {
-#ifdef SIGALRM
-	signal(SIGALRM, checkout);
-	alarm(CHECKTIME * 60);
-#endif
+	md_start_checkout_timer(CHECKTIME * 60);
 	num_checks = 0;
     }
 
@@ -464,9 +461,6 @@ checkout(int p)
 	"Last warning.  You have %d minutes to leave",
     };
     int checktime;
-#ifdef SIGALRM
-    signal(SIGALRM, checkout);
-#endif
     if (too_much())
     {
 	if (num_checks >= 3)
@@ -474,9 +468,7 @@ checkout(int p)
 	checktime = CHECKTIME / (num_checks + 1);
 	if (num_checks < 3)
 		chmsg(msgs[num_checks++], checktime);
-#ifdef SIGALRM
-	alarm(checktime * 60);
-#endif
+	md_start_checkout_timer(checktime * 60);
     }
     else
     {
@@ -485,9 +477,7 @@ checkout(int p)
 	    chmsg("The load has dropped back down.  You have a reprieve.");
 	    num_checks = 0;
 	}
-#ifdef SIGALRM
-	alarm(CHECKTIME * 60);
-#endif
+	md_start_checkout_timer(CHECKTIME * 60);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/rogue3/mdport.c b/rogue3/mdport.c
index a489454..955fa91 100644
--- a/rogue3/mdport.c
+++ b/rogue3/mdport.c
@@ -1510,11 +1510,10 @@ md_tstpsignal(void)
 #endif
 }
 
-#if defined(CHECKTIME)
 void
 md_start_checkout_timer(int time)
 {
-    int  checkout();
+    void checkout();
 
 #if defined(HAVE_ALARM) && defined(SIGALRM)
     signal(SIGALRM, checkout);
@@ -1529,7 +1528,6 @@ md_stop_checkout_timer(void)
     signal(SIGALRM, SIG_IGN);
 #endif
 }
-#endif
 
 long
 md_memused()
diff --git a/rogue3/mdport.h b/rogue3/mdport.h
index 05d4662..4e93402 100644
--- a/rogue3/mdport.h
+++ b/rogue3/mdport.h
@@ -187,6 +187,8 @@ void	md_onsignal_exit(void);
 void	md_onsignal_default(void);
 int	md_issymlink(char *sp);
 int     md_loadav(double *avg);
+void    md_start_checkout_timer(int time);
+void    md_stop_checkout_timer(void);
 long    md_memused(void);
 int     md_ucount(void);
 int     md_unlockfile(FILE *fp);