diff --git a/tests/docker/conftest.py b/tests/docker/conftest.py
index bef20f2e48e..18e1f7bc2c2 100644
--- a/tests/docker/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/docker/conftest.py
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ def poll_container(
     probe: str,
     *,
     deadline_s: float = 30.0,
-    interval_s: float = 0.25,
+    interval_s: float = 0.5,
     user: str = "hermes",
 ) -> tuple[bool, str]:
     """Repeatedly run ``probe`` inside the container until it exits 0 or
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ def wait_for_log(
 
 
 def wait_for_docker_logs(
-    container: str, needle: str, *, deadline_s: float = 30.0, interval_s: float = 0.25,
+    container: str, needle: str, *, deadline_s: float = 30.0, interval_s: float = 0.5,
 ) -> str:
     """Poll ``docker logs`` until ``needle`` appears or deadline expires.
 
diff --git a/tests/docker/test_dashboard.py b/tests/docker/test_dashboard.py
index 964dd375f7f..911707c9262 100644
--- a/tests/docker/test_dashboard.py
+++ b/tests/docker/test_dashboard.py
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ def test_dashboard_restarts_after_crash(
         if first_pids:
             first_pid = first_pids[0]
             break
-        time.sleep(0.25)
+        time.sleep(0.5)
     assert first_pid is not None, "Could not capture initial dashboard PID"
 
     # Kill the dashboard. The dashboard process runs as hermes, so the
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ def test_dashboard_restarts_after_crash(
         pids = r.stdout.strip().split() if r.returncode == 0 else []
         if pids and pids[0] != first_pid:
             return  # success
-        time.sleep(0.25)
+        time.sleep(0.5)
 
     raise AssertionError(
         f"Dashboard not restarted after kill (first_pid={first_pid})"
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ except urllib.error.HTTPError as h:
                 last_err = f"parse: {exc!r} / stdout={r.stdout!r}"
         else:
             last_err = f"rc={r.returncode} stderr={r.stderr!r}"
-        time.sleep(0.25)
+        time.sleep(0.5)
     raise AssertionError(
         f"Probe of {path} never returned HTTP within {deadline_s}s; "
         f"last error: {last_err}"
diff --git a/tests/docker/test_gateway_run_supervised.py b/tests/docker/test_gateway_run_supervised.py
index f7182f57ab9..3e75c51db01 100644
--- a/tests/docker/test_gateway_run_supervised.py
+++ b/tests/docker/test_gateway_run_supervised.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ def _wait_for_gateway_or_exit(
             )
             if pgrep.returncode == 0:
                 return "running"
-        time.sleep(0.25)
+        time.sleep(0.5)
     return status
 
 
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ def test_dashboard_supervised_when_env_set(
         if _svstat_wants_up(container_name, "gateway-default"):
             ok_gateway = True
             break
-        time.sleep(0.25)
+        time.sleep(0.5)
     assert ok_gateway, (
         f"gateway-default slot not want-up: {_svstat(container_name)!r}"
     )
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ def test_dashboard_supervised_when_env_set(
         if _svstat_wants_up(container_name, "dashboard"):
             ok_dash = True
             break
-        time.sleep(0.25)
+        time.sleep(0.5)
     assert ok_dash, (
         f"dashboard slot not want-up: {_svstat(container_name, 'dashboard')!r}"
     )