diff --git a/cargo-shuttle/src/client.rs b/cargo-shuttle/src/client.rs
index d1833c9e7..4090dff68 100644
--- a/cargo-shuttle/src/client.rs
+++ b/cargo-shuttle/src/client.rs
@@ -226,7 +226,17 @@ impl ShuttleApiClient {
     }
 
     pub async fn delete_project(&self, project: &str) -> Result<String> {
-        self.delete(format!("/projects/{project}/delete")).await
+        let mut builder = self.client.delete(format!("/projects/{project}/delete"));
+        builder = self.set_auth_bearer(builder);
+        // project delete on alpha can take a while
+        builder = builder.timeout(Duration::from_secs(60 * 5));
+
+        builder
+            .send()
+            .await
+            .context("failed to make delete request")?
+            .to_json()
+            .await
     }
     pub async fn delete_project_beta(&self, project: &str) -> Result<String> {
         self.delete(format!("/projects/{project}")).await
diff --git a/gateway/src/task.rs b/gateway/src/task.rs
index 030bcb1f1..10be88a56 100644
--- a/gateway/src/task.rs
+++ b/gateway/src/task.rs
@@ -161,7 +161,8 @@ pub fn restart(project_id: Ulid) -> impl Task<ProjectContext, Output = Project>
             .container()
             .and_then(|container| ProjectCreating::from_container(container, 0).ok())
             .unwrap_or_else(|| {
-                ProjectCreating::new_with_random_initial_key(ctx.project_name, project_id, 1)
+                // idle minutes 1 is generally buggy, therefore use 3.
+                ProjectCreating::new_with_random_initial_key(ctx.project_name, project_id, 3)
             });
 
         TaskResult::Done(Project::Creating(state))