Abstract: Determining execution time for a portion of software includes obtaining a first time stamp value at a beginning of the portion and obtaining a second time stamp value at an end of the portion. At least one of the first and second time stamp values is adjusted to compensate for any amount of time that the portion is swapped out in a multitasking operating system. The first time stamp value is subtracted from the second time stamp value to determine execution time. Determining execution time may also include providing a deltaout value that is initialized to zero prior to the portion being run for a first time. The deltaout value is incremented by an amount of time the portion is swapped out. The first time stamp value is compensated by subtracting the deltaout value therefrom and the second time stamp value is compensated by subtracting the deltaout value therefrom.