diff --git a/web/test/media-catalog-page.test.tsx b/web/test/media-catalog-page.test.tsx
index ef2581f..0a9f0c3 100644
--- a/web/test/media-catalog-page.test.tsx
+++ b/web/test/media-catalog-page.test.tsx
@@ -62,7 +62,9 @@ function mount(entry: string) {
   ));
 }
 async function settle(done: () => boolean) {
-  for (let i = 0; i < 50 && !done(); i++) await act(async () => { await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 10)); });
+  // Up to 4s rather than 50 polls: a slow CI runner's first render alone can take over half a second.
+  const deadline = Date.now() + 4000;
+  while (!done() && Date.now() < deadline) await act(async () => { await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 10)); });
   expect(done()).toBe(true);
 }
 const prefer = (patch: Partial<MediaPreferences>) => saveMediaPreferences(scope, { density: 'compact', showContinue: true, showLibraryName: true, ...patch });
diff --git a/web/test/media-list-return.test.tsx b/web/test/media-list-return.test.tsx
index 6ad9686..dc6c194 100644
--- a/web/test/media-list-return.test.tsx
+++ b/web/test/media-list-return.test.tsx
@@ -50,8 +50,10 @@ function mount(initial: string) {
   return router;
 }
 
+/** Polls until `done` holds, for up to 4s: a slow CI runner's first render alone can take over half a second. */
 async function settle(done: () => boolean) {
-  for (let i = 0; i < 50 && !done(); i++) await act(async () => { await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 10)); });
+  const deadline = Date.now() + 4000;
+  while (!done() && Date.now() < deadline) await act(async () => { await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 10)); });
   expect(done()).toBe(true);
 }
 const screen = () => root.querySelector<HTMLElement>('.media-screen')!;