diff --git a/modules/canopennode/Kconfig b/modules/canopennode/Kconfig
index 9be571229b35a..ace9ec2e59dc2 100644
--- a/modules/canopennode/Kconfig
+++ b/modules/canopennode/Kconfig
@@ -84,6 +84,14 @@ config CANOPENNODE_SYNC_THREAD
 	  TPDOs. Application layer must take care of SYNC RPDO and
 	  TPDO processing on its own if this is disabled.
 
+config CANOPENNODE_SYNC_THREAD_PERIOD_US
+	int "Loop period of the periodic CANopen SYNC thread"
+	depends on CANOPENNODE_SYNC_THREAD
+	default 1000
+	help
+	  Loop period in microseconds of the periodic thread processing
+	  CANopen SYNC RPDOs and TPDOs.
+
 config CANOPENNODE_SYNC_THREAD_STACK_SIZE
 	int "Stack size for the CANopen SYNC thread"
 	depends on CANOPENNODE_SYNC_THREAD
diff --git a/modules/canopennode/canopen_sync.c b/modules/canopennode/canopen_sync.c
index 3a978d7405551..260868a27aac5 100644
--- a/modules/canopennode/canopen_sync.c
+++ b/modules/canopennode/canopen_sync.c
@@ -6,11 +6,25 @@
 
 #include <CANopen.h>
 
+static struct k_timer sync_timer;
+static struct k_sem sync_sem;
+static uint32_t last_sync_time; /* cycles */
+
+/**
+ * @brief SYNC Timer expiry callback.
+ */
+static void sync_timer_expiry(struct k_timer *timer)
+{
+	ARG_UNUSED(timer);
+	k_sem_give(&sync_sem);
+}
+
 /**
  * @brief CANopen sync thread.
  *
  * The CANopen real-time sync thread processes SYNC RPDOs and TPDOs
  * through the CANopenNode stack with an interval of 1 millisecond.
+ * Uses a k_timer for deterministic timing.
  *
  * @param p1 Unused
  * @param p2 Unused
@@ -18,18 +32,33 @@
  */
 static void canopen_sync_thread(void *p1, void *p2, void *p3)
 {
-	uint32_t start; /* cycles */
-	uint32_t stop;  /* cycles */
-	uint32_t delta; /* cycles */
-	uint32_t elapsed = 0; /* microseconds */
+	uint32_t current_time; /* cycles */
+	uint32_t delta;        /* cycles */
+	uint32_t elapsed = 0;  /* microseconds */
 	bool sync;
 
 	ARG_UNUSED(p1);
 	ARG_UNUSED(p2);
 	ARG_UNUSED(p3);
 
+	/* Initialize binary semaphore and timer */
+	k_sem_init(&sync_sem, 0, 1);
+	k_timer_init(&sync_timer, sync_timer_expiry, NULL);
+
+	/* Start the periodic timer */
+	k_timer_start(&sync_timer, K_USEC(CONFIG_CANOPENNODE_SYNC_THREAD_PERIOD_US),
+		      K_USEC(CONFIG_CANOPENNODE_SYNC_THREAD_PERIOD_US));
+	last_sync_time = k_cycle_get_32();
+
 	while (true) {
-		start = k_cycle_get_32();
+		/* Wait for timer to fire - deterministic wake-up */
+		k_sem_take(&sync_sem, K_FOREVER);
+
+		current_time = k_cycle_get_32();
+		delta = current_time - last_sync_time;
+		elapsed = (uint32_t)k_cyc_to_ns_floor64(delta) / NSEC_PER_USEC;
+		last_sync_time = current_time;
+
 		if (CO && CO->CANmodule[0] && CO->CANmodule[0]->CANnormal) {
 			CO_LOCK_OD();
 			sync = CO_process_SYNC(CO, elapsed);
@@ -37,14 +66,8 @@ static void canopen_sync_thread(void *p1, void *p2, void *p3)
 			CO_process_TPDO(CO, sync, elapsed);
 			CO_UNLOCK_OD();
 		}
-
-		k_sleep(K_MSEC(1));
-		stop = k_cycle_get_32();
-		delta = stop - start;
-		elapsed = (uint32_t)k_cyc_to_ns_floor64(delta) / NSEC_PER_USEC;
 	}
 }
 
-K_THREAD_DEFINE(canopen_sync, CONFIG_CANOPENNODE_SYNC_THREAD_STACK_SIZE,
-		canopen_sync_thread, NULL, NULL, NULL,
-		CONFIG_CANOPENNODE_SYNC_THREAD_PRIORITY, 0, 1);
+K_THREAD_DEFINE(canopen_sync, CONFIG_CANOPENNODE_SYNC_THREAD_STACK_SIZE, canopen_sync_thread, NULL,
+		NULL, NULL, CONFIG_CANOPENNODE_SYNC_THREAD_PRIORITY, 0, 1);