diff --git a/scripts/baseline.py b/scripts/baseline.py
index e325a63..ab997a9 100644
--- a/scripts/baseline.py
+++ b/scripts/baseline.py
@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@ CONCURRENCY = int(os.environ.get("MBB_CONCURRENCY", "12"))
 # holding a slot for the length of the run, not to cut short slow thinking.
 REQUEST_TIMEOUT = int(os.environ.get("MBB_TIMEOUT", "900"))
 
+# Per-sample wall clock. One baseline sample hung on a single model request for
+# 2h15m with no file activity and never came back; the request timeout did not
+# bound it. Samples that finish take 8 to 15 minutes, so 30 is generous, and an
+# unbounded straggler blocking a whole run is worth more than the sample.
+SAMPLE_TIME_LIMIT = int(os.environ.get("MBB_SAMPLE_LIMIT", "1800"))
+
 
 def credits_used() -> float | None:
     """Total credits spent on the key so far, or None if the endpoint is unavailable."""
@@ -71,6 +77,7 @@ def run_split(split: str) -> dict:
         fail_on_error=False,
         timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
         max_retries=3,
+        time_limit=SAMPLE_TIME_LIMIT,
     )
     after = credits_used()
     log = logs[0]
diff --git a/scripts/pilot.py b/scripts/pilot.py
index 0241be0..794d756 100644
--- a/scripts/pilot.py
+++ b/scripts/pilot.py
@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@ MODEL = os.environ.get("MBB_MODEL", "openrouter/z-ai/glm-5.3-flash")
 LIMIT = int(os.environ.get("MBB_LIMIT", "30"))
 CONCURRENCY = int(os.environ.get("MBB_CONCURRENCY", "12"))
 REQUEST_TIMEOUT = int(os.environ.get("MBB_TIMEOUT", "900"))
+
+# Per-sample wall clock. One baseline sample hung on a single model request for
+# 2h15m with no file activity and never came back; the request timeout did not
+# bound it. Samples that finish take 8 to 15 minutes, so 30 is generous, and an
+# unbounded straggler blocking a whole run is worth more than the sample.
+SAMPLE_TIME_LIMIT = int(os.environ.get("MBB_SAMPLE_LIMIT", "1800"))
 OUT = Path("results")
 
 
@@ -88,6 +94,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
         fail_on_error=False,
         timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
         max_retries=3,
+        time_limit=SAMPLE_TIME_LIMIT,
     )[0]
     after = credits_used()