diff --git a/eventlet/debug.py b/eventlet/debug.py
index 70d0aca..50586b3 100644
--- a/eventlet/debug.py
+++ b/eventlet/debug.py
@@ -132,13 +132,14 @@ def tpool_exceptions(state = False):
     from eventlet import tpool
     tpool.QUIET = not state
 
-def hub_blocking_detection(state = False):
+def hub_blocking_detection(state = False, resolution = 1):
     """Toggles whether Eventlet makes an effort to detect blocking
     behavior in other code.  It does this by setting a SIGALARM with a short 
     timeout.
     """
     from eventlet import hubs
     hubs.get_hub().debug_blocking = state
+    hubs.get_hub().debug_blocking_resolution = resolution
     if(not state):
         hubs.get_hub().block_detect_post()
     
diff --git a/eventlet/hubs/hub.py b/eventlet/hubs/hub.py
index 4aaf49a..0f9d0cb 100644
--- a/eventlet/hubs/hub.py
+++ b/eventlet/hubs/hub.py
@@ -4,6 +4,13 @@ import traceback
 import warnings
 import signal
 
+HAS_ITIMER = False
+try:
+    import itimer
+    HAS_ITIMER = True
+except ImportError:
+    pass
+
 from eventlet.support import greenlets as greenlet, clear_sys_exc_info
 from eventlet.hubs import timer
 from eventlet import patcher
@@ -71,13 +78,19 @@ class BaseHub(object):
         self.timers_canceled = 0
         self.debug_exceptions = True
         self.debug_blocking = False
+        self.debug_blocking_resolution = 1
 
     def block_detect_pre(self):
         # shortest alarm we can possibly raise is one second
         tmp = signal.signal(signal.SIGALRM, alarm_handler)
         if tmp != alarm_handler:
             self._old_signal_handler = tmp
-        signal.alarm(1)
+
+        if HAS_ITIMER:
+            itimer.alarm(self.debug_blocking_resolution)
+        else:
+            signal.alarm(self.debug_blocking_resolution)
+
     def block_detect_post(self):
         if (hasattr(self, "_old_signal_handler") and
             self._old_signal_handler):
diff --git a/tests/__init__.py b/tests/__init__.py
index 5884f09..4845574 100644
--- a/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/__init__.py
@@ -92,6 +92,16 @@ def skip_on_windows(func):
     import sys
     return skip_if(sys.platform.startswith('win'))(func)
 
+def skip_if_no_itimer(func):
+    """ Decorator that skips a test if the `itimer` module isn't found """
+    has_itimer = False
+    try:
+        import itimer
+        has_itimer = True
+    except ImportError:
+        pass
+    return skip_unless(has_itimer)(func)
+
 
 class TestIsTakingTooLong(Exception):
     """ Custom exception class to be raised when a test's runtime exceeds a limit. """
diff --git a/tests/hub_test.py b/tests/hub_test.py
index d3f9561..d7559db 100644
--- a/tests/hub_test.py
+++ b/tests/hub_test.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from tests import LimitedTestCase, main, skip_with_pyevent
+from tests import LimitedTestCase, main, skip_with_pyevent, skip_if_no_itimer
 import time
 import eventlet
 from eventlet import hubs
@@ -154,6 +154,18 @@ class TestHubBlockingDetector(LimitedTestCase):
         self.assertRaises(RuntimeError, gt.wait)
         debug.hub_blocking_detection(False)
 
+    @skip_if_no_itimer
+    def test_block_detect_with_itimer(self):
+        def look_im_blocking():
+            import time
+            time.sleep(0.5)
+
+        from eventlet import debug
+        debug.hub_blocking_detection(True, resolution=0.1)
+        gt = eventlet.spawn(look_im_blocking)
+        self.assertRaises(RuntimeError, gt.wait)
+        debug.hub_blocking_detection(False)
+
 class TestSuspend(LimitedTestCase):
     TEST_TIMEOUT=3
     def test_suspend_doesnt_crash(self):