diff --git a/slsReceiverSoftware/src/ThreadObject.cpp b/slsReceiverSoftware/src/ThreadObject.cpp
index eec0d2aaf..1a10aad12 100644
--- a/slsReceiverSoftware/src/ThreadObject.cpp
+++ b/slsReceiverSoftware/src/ThreadObject.cpp
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ namespace sls {
 ThreadObject::ThreadObject(int index, std::string type)
     : index(index), type(type) {
     LOG(logDEBUG) << type << " thread created: " << index;
-    sem_init(&semaphore, 1, 0);
     try {
         threadObject = std::thread(&ThreadObject::RunningThread, this);
     } catch (...) {
@@ -27,9 +26,8 @@ ThreadObject::ThreadObject(int index, std::string type)
 
 ThreadObject::~ThreadObject() {
     killThread = true;
-    sem_post(&semaphore);
+    semaphore.release();
     threadObject.join();
-    sem_destroy(&semaphore);
 }
 
 pid_t ThreadObject::GetThreadId() const { return threadId; }
@@ -49,14 +47,14 @@ void ThreadObject::RunningThread() {
             ThreadExecution();
         }
         // wait till the next acquisition
-        sem_wait(&semaphore);
+        semaphore.acquire();
     }
     LOG(logINFOBLUE) << "Exiting [ " << type << " Thread " << index
                      << ", Tid: " << threadId << "]";
     threadId = 0;
 }
 
-void ThreadObject::Continue() { sem_post(&semaphore); }
+void ThreadObject::Continue() { semaphore.release(); }
 
 void ThreadObject::SetThreadPriority(int priority) {
     struct sched_param param;
diff --git a/slsReceiverSoftware/src/ThreadObject.h b/slsReceiverSoftware/src/ThreadObject.h
index 6089e1042..f004200af 100644
--- a/slsReceiverSoftware/src/ThreadObject.h
+++ b/slsReceiverSoftware/src/ThreadObject.h
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@
 
 #include "sls/logger.h"
 #include "sls/sls_detector_defs.h"
+#include "sls/thread_utils.h"
 
 #include <atomic>
-#include <semaphore.h>
 #include <string>
 #include <thread>
 
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class ThreadObject : private virtual slsDetectorDefs {
     std::atomic<bool> killThread{false};
     std::atomic<bool> runningFlag{false};
     std::thread threadObject;
-    sem_t semaphore;
+    binary_semaphore semaphore{0};
     const std::string type;
     std::atomic<pid_t> threadId{0};
 };
diff --git a/slsSupportLib/include/sls/thread_utils.h b/slsSupportLib/include/sls/thread_utils.h
index c1a7ff69c..ac20a5099 100644
--- a/slsSupportLib/include/sls/thread_utils.h
+++ b/slsSupportLib/include/sls/thread_utils.h
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
  * within a single process.
  */
 
+#include <condition_variable>
+#include <mutex>
 #include <sys/types.h> // pid_t
 
 #if defined(__APPLE__)
@@ -46,4 +48,38 @@ inline pid_t getThreadId() noexcept {
 #endif
 }
 
+/**
+ * Minimal C++17 backport of the subset of std::binary_semaphore used in this
+ * project. API matches std::binary_semaphore so call sites can switch to
+ * <semaphore> verbatim once the project moves to C++20. Built on
+ * std::mutex + std::condition_variable; therefore NOT async-signal-safe, do
+ * not call release() from a signal handler.
+ */
+class binary_semaphore {
+  public:
+    explicit binary_semaphore(int desired) : count_(desired) {}
+
+    binary_semaphore(const binary_semaphore &) = delete;
+    binary_semaphore &operator=(const binary_semaphore &) = delete;
+
+    void acquire() {
+        std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lk(mtx_);
+        cv_.wait(lk, [this] { return count_ > 0; });
+        --count_;
+    }
+
+    void release() {
+        {
+            std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(mtx_);
+            ++count_;
+        }
+        cv_.notify_one();
+    }
+
+  private:
+    std::mutex mtx_;
+    std::condition_variable cv_;
+    int count_;
+};
+
 } // namespace sls