diff --git a/tests/functional/meson.build b/tests/functional/meson.build
index 53dc21af5..0ea0e4df5 100644
--- a/tests/functional/meson.build
+++ b/tests/functional/meson.build
@@ -176,5 +176,8 @@ foreach script : functional_tests_scripts
     env : {
       'MESON_BUILD_ROOT': meson.project_build_root(),
     },
+    # some tests take 15+ seconds even on an otherwise idle machine, on a loaded machine
+    # this can easily drive them to failure. give them more time, 5min rather than 30sec
+    timeout : 300,
   )
 endforeach