diff --git a/tooz/drivers/file.py b/tooz/drivers/file.py
index 78ac0503..209f8bc4 100644
--- a/tooz/drivers/file.py
+++ b/tooz/drivers/file.py
@@ -74,10 +74,7 @@ class FileLock(locking.Lock):
         return self.acquired
 
     def acquire(self, blocking=True):
-        timeout = None
-        if not isinstance(blocking, bool):
-            timeout = float(blocking)
-            blocking = True
+        blocking, timeout = utils.convert_blocking(blocking)
         watch = timeutils.StopWatch(duration=timeout)
         watch.start()
         while True:
diff --git a/tooz/drivers/ipc.py b/tooz/drivers/ipc.py
index d57fc1d5..ed668559 100644
--- a/tooz/drivers/ipc.py
+++ b/tooz/drivers/ipc.py
@@ -64,19 +64,15 @@ class IPCLock(locking.Lock):
         self._lock = None
 
     def acquire(self, blocking=True):
-        if (blocking is not True
-           and sysv_ipc.SEMAPHORE_TIMEOUT_SUPPORTED is False):
-            raise tooz.NotImplemented(
-                "This system does not support semaphore timeout")
-        # Convert blocking argument to a valid timeout value
-        if blocking is True:
-            timeout = None
-            start_time = None
-        elif blocking is False:
+        if (blocking is not True and
+                sysv_ipc.SEMAPHORE_TIMEOUT_SUPPORTED is False):
+            raise tooz.NotImplemented("This system does not support"
+                                      " semaphore timeouts")
+        blocking, timeout = utils.convert_blocking(blocking)
+        start_time = None
+        if not blocking:
             timeout = 0
-            start_time = None
-        else:
-            timeout = blocking
+        elif blocking and timeout is not None:
             start_time = time.time()
         while True:
             try:
diff --git a/tooz/drivers/redis.py b/tooz/drivers/redis.py
index 216774dc..98e69136 100644
--- a/tooz/drivers/redis.py
+++ b/tooz/drivers/redis.py
@@ -74,14 +74,10 @@ class RedisLock(locking.Lock):
             return owner_tok == lock_tok
 
     def acquire(self, blocking=True):
-        if blocking is True or blocking is False:
-            blocking_timeout = None
-        else:
-            blocking_timeout = float(blocking)
-            blocking = True
+        blocking, timeout = utils.convert_blocking(blocking)
         with _translate_failures():
             self.acquired = self._lock.acquire(
-                blocking=blocking, blocking_timeout=blocking_timeout)
+                blocking=blocking, blocking_timeout=timeout)
             if self.acquired:
                 self._coord._acquired_locks.add(self)
             return self.acquired
diff --git a/tooz/drivers/zookeeper.py b/tooz/drivers/zookeeper.py
index 6a4f73f0..2b578571 100644
--- a/tooz/drivers/zookeeper.py
+++ b/tooz/drivers/zookeeper.py
@@ -56,11 +56,7 @@ class ZooKeeperLock(locking.Lock):
                                           cause=e)
 
     def acquire(self, blocking=True):
-        if isinstance(blocking, bool):
-            timeout = None
-        else:
-            blocking = True
-            timeout = float(blocking)
+        blocking, timeout = utils.convert_blocking(blocking)
         self.acquired = self._lock.acquire(blocking=blocking,
                                            timeout=timeout)
         return self.acquired
diff --git a/tooz/utils.py b/tooz/utils.py
index ac723ea2..2931feb5 100644
--- a/tooz/utils.py
+++ b/tooz/utils.py
@@ -104,6 +104,15 @@ def safe_abs_path(rooted_at, *pieces):
     return path
 
 
+def convert_blocking(blocking):
+    """Converts a multi-type blocking variable into its derivatives."""
+    timeout = None
+    if not isinstance(blocking, bool):
+        timeout = float(blocking)
+        blocking = True
+    return blocking, timeout
+
+
 def ensure_tree(path):
     """Create a directory (and any ancestor directories required).