diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-pull-request.yml b/.github/workflows/test-pull-request.yml
index 70191bd067..116b7ebc74 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-pull-request.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-pull-request.yml
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: julia-actions/julia-buildpkg@v1
       - name: Run tests
         uses: julia-actions/julia-runtest@v1
+        timeout-minutes: 30  # kill stale process earlier
         continue-on-error: ${{ matrix.version == '1.6' }}
       - name: Process coverage
         uses: julia-actions/julia-processcoverage@v1