diff --git a/xs/t/22_exception.t b/xs/t/22_exception.t
index ca2ffea89..b57255fa5 100644
--- a/xs/t/22_exception.t
+++ b/xs/t/22_exception.t
@@ -8,7 +8,10 @@ use Test::More tests => 1;
 
 {
     eval {
+        local $SIG{ALRM} = sub { die "Timed out waiting for exception\n" }; # NB: \n required
+        alarm 30;
         Slic3r::xspp_test_croak_hangs_on_strawberry();
+        alarm 0;
     };
     is $@, "xspp_test_croak_hangs_on_strawberry: exception catched\n", 'croak from inside a C++ exception delivered';
 }