diff --git a/vfs/read.go b/vfs/read.go
index c51f46008..c44d9118f 100644
--- a/vfs/read.go
+++ b/vfs/read.go
@@ -212,6 +212,43 @@ func (fh *ReadFileHandle) ReadAt(p []byte, off int64) (n int, err error) {
 	return fh.readAt(p, off)
 }
 
+// This waits for *poff to equal off or aborts after the timeout.
+//
+// Waits here potentially affect all seeks so need to keep them short
+//
+// Call with fh.mu Locked
+func waitSequential(what string, remote string, cond *sync.Cond, maxWait time.Duration, poff *int64, off int64) {
+	var (
+		timeout = time.NewTimer(maxWait)
+		done    = make(chan struct{})
+		abort   = false
+	)
+	go func() {
+		select {
+		case <-timeout.C:
+			// take the lock to make sure that cond.Wait() is called before
+			// cond.Broadcast. NB cond.L == mu
+			cond.L.Lock()
+			// set abort flag and give all the waiting goroutines a kick on timeout
+			abort = true
+			fs.Debugf(remote, "aborting in-sequence %s wait, off=%d", what, off)
+			cond.Broadcast()
+			cond.L.Unlock()
+		case <-done:
+		}
+	}()
+	for *poff != off && !abort {
+		fs.Debugf(remote, "waiting for in-sequence %s to %d for %v", what, off, maxWait)
+		cond.Wait()
+	}
+	// tidy up end timer
+	close(done)
+	timeout.Stop()
+	if *poff != off {
+		fs.Debugf(remote, "failed to wait for in-sequence %s to %d", what, off)
+	}
+}
+
 // Implementation of ReadAt - call with lock held
 func (fh *ReadFileHandle) readAt(p []byte, off int64) (n int, err error) {
 	// defer log.Trace(fh.remote, "p[%d], off=%d", len(p), off)("n=%d, err=%v", &n, &err)
@@ -229,39 +266,7 @@ func (fh *ReadFileHandle) readAt(p []byte, off int64) (n int, err error) {
 		maxBuf = len(p)
 	}
 	if gap := off - fh.offset; gap > 0 && gap < int64(8*maxBuf) {
-		// Set a background timer so we don't wait for long
-		// Waits here potentially affect all seeks so need to keep them short
-		// The default time here was made by finding the
-		// smallest when mounting a local backend that didn't
-		// cause seeks.
-		maxWait := fh.file.VFS().Opt.ReadWait
-		timeout := time.NewTimer(maxWait)
-		done := make(chan struct{})
-		abort := false
-		go func() {
-			select {
-			case <-timeout.C:
-				// take the lock to make sure that fh.cond.Wait() is called before
-				// fh.cond.Broadcast. NB fh.cond.L == fh.mu
-				fh.mu.Lock()
-				// set abort flag and give all the waiting goroutines a kick on timeout
-				abort = true
-				fs.Debugf(fh.remote, "aborting in-sequence read wait, off=%d", off)
-				fh.cond.Broadcast()
-				fh.mu.Unlock()
-			case <-done:
-			}
-		}()
-		for fh.offset != off && !abort {
-			fs.Debugf(fh.remote, "waiting for in-sequence read to %d for %v", off, maxWait)
-			fh.cond.Wait()
-		}
-		// tidy up end timer
-		close(done)
-		timeout.Stop()
-		if fh.offset != off {
-			fs.Debugf(fh.remote, "failed to wait for in-sequence read to %d", off)
-		}
+		waitSequential("read", fh.remote, fh.cond, fh.file.VFS().Opt.ReadWait, &fh.offset, off)
 	}
 	doSeek := off != fh.offset
 	if doSeek && fh.noSeek {
diff --git a/vfs/write.go b/vfs/write.go
index b7401bbe9..dd45fdcfd 100644
--- a/vfs/write.go
+++ b/vfs/write.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"sync"
-	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs"
@@ -131,28 +130,7 @@ func (fh *WriteFileHandle) writeAt(p []byte, off int64) (n int, err error) {
 		return 0, ECLOSED
 	}
 	if fh.offset != off {
-		// Set a background timer so we don't wait forever
-		maxWait := fh.file.VFS().Opt.WriteWait
-		timeout := time.NewTimer(maxWait)
-		done := make(chan struct{})
-		abort := int32(0)
-		go func() {
-			select {
-			case <-timeout.C:
-				// set abort flag an give all the waiting goroutines a kick on timeout
-				atomic.StoreInt32(&abort, 1)
-				fh.cond.Broadcast()
-			case <-done:
-			}
-		}()
-		// Wait for an in-sequence write or abort
-		for fh.offset != off && atomic.LoadInt32(&abort) == 0 {
-			// fs.Debugf(fh.remote, "waiting for in-sequence write to %d", off)
-			fh.cond.Wait()
-		}
-		// tidy up end timer
-		close(done)
-		timeout.Stop()
+		waitSequential("write", fh.remote, fh.cond, fh.file.VFS().Opt.WriteWait, &fh.offset, off)
 	}
 	if fh.offset != off {
 		fs.Errorf(fh.remote, "WriteFileHandle.Write: can't seek in file without --vfs-cache-mode >= writes")