diff --git a/triqs/utility/callbacks.cpp b/triqs/utility/callbacks.cpp
index 06f5f8ef..b56fecdd 100644
--- a/triqs/utility/callbacks.cpp
+++ b/triqs/utility/callbacks.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-
 /*******************************************************************************
  *
  * TRIQS: a Toolbox for Research in Interacting Quantum Systems
@@ -22,24 +21,47 @@
 
 #include "callbacks.hpp"
 #include "signal_handler.hpp"
+
+// switch to std. Remove old boost code when ok on several compilers
+#ifndef TRIQS_USE_BOOST_CHRONO
+#include <chrono>
+
+namespace triqs {
+namespace utility {
+
+ std::function<bool()> clock_callback(int time_in_seconds) {
+  if (time_in_seconds <= 0)
+   return []() { return (!triqs::signal_handler().empty()); };
+
+  // auto end_time = boost::posix_time::second_clock::local_time() + boost::posix_time::seconds(time_in_seconds);
+  // return [end_time]() { return (!triqs::signal_handler().empty()) || boost::posix_time::second_clock::local_time() > end_time
+
+  auto end_time = std::chrono::system_clock::now() + std::chrono::seconds(time_in_seconds);
+  return [end_time]() { return (!triqs::signal_handler().empty()) || (std::chrono::system_clock::now() > end_time); };
+ }
+}
+}
+
+#else
+
 #include <boost/date_time/posix_time/posix_time.hpp>
 #include <boost/bind.hpp>
 
-namespace triqs { 
- namespace utility { 
-
-  bool clock_callback_impl(boost::posix_time::ptime const & end_time) {
-   return (!triqs::signal_handler().empty()) || boost::posix_time::second_clock::local_time() > end_time;
-  }
-
-  bool false_callback_impl() {   return (!triqs::signal_handler().empty());}
-
-  boost::function<bool ()> clock_callback(int time_in_seconds) {
-   return (time_in_seconds>0 ?
-     boost::bind(&clock_callback_impl, boost::posix_time::second_clock::local_time() + boost::posix_time::seconds(time_in_seconds)) : 
-     boost::function<bool ()> (&false_callback_impl));
-  }
+namespace triqs {
+namespace utility {
 
+ bool clock_callback_impl(boost::posix_time::ptime const& end_time) {
+  return (!triqs::signal_handler().empty()) || boost::posix_time::second_clock::local_time() > end_time;
  }
-};
+
+ bool false_callback_impl() { return (!triqs::signal_handler().empty()); }
+
+ std::function<bool()> clock_callback(int time_in_seconds) {
+  return (time_in_seconds > 0 ? boost::bind(&clock_callback_impl, boost::posix_time::second_clock::local_time() +
+                                                                      boost::posix_time::seconds(time_in_seconds))
+                              : std::function<bool()>(&false_callback_impl));
+ }
+}
+}
+#endif
 
diff --git a/triqs/utility/callbacks.hpp b/triqs/utility/callbacks.hpp
index 92655e5f..2e2cde12 100644
--- a/triqs/utility/callbacks.hpp
+++ b/triqs/utility/callbacks.hpp
@@ -23,11 +23,11 @@
 #ifndef TRIQS_TOOLS_MC_CALLBACKS_H
 #define TRIQS_TOOLS_MC_CALLBACKS_H
 #include <triqs/utility/first_include.hpp>
-#include <boost/function.hpp>
+#include <functional>
 
 namespace triqs { namespace utility { 
  
- boost::function<bool ()> clock_callback(int time_in_seconds);
+ std::function<bool ()> clock_callback(int time_in_seconds);
 
 }}
 #endif