diff --git a/socat.spec b/socat.spec
index 839a827..2f3ded0 100644
--- a/socat.spec
+++ b/socat.spec
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ install -m 0644 *.sh %{buildroot}/%{_docdir}/socat/
 %check
 export TERM=ansi
 export OD_C=/usr/bin/od
-make test
+# intermittently, a test sometimes just fails and hangs, mostly on arm
+timeout 30m make test
 
 %files 
 %doc BUGREPORTS CHANGES DEVELOPMENT EXAMPLES FAQ PORTING