diff --git a/tests/docker/conftest.py b/tests/docker/conftest.py
index ce821797c76..088a71b5fe9 100644
--- a/tests/docker/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/docker/conftest.py
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ and exercise it via ``docker run``. They skip when Docker is unavailable
 Override the image with ``HERMES_TEST_IMAGE`` env var to point at a pre-built
 image (faster local iteration); otherwise the ``built_image`` fixture builds
 the repo's Dockerfile once per session.
+
+Docker tests need longer timeouts than the suite default (30s), so every
+test under this directory is granted a 180s default via
+``pytest.mark.timeout`` applied at collection time.
 """
 from __future__ import annotations
 
@@ -34,14 +38,17 @@ def _docker_available() -> bool:
 
 
 def pytest_collection_modifyitems(config, items):  # noqa: D401 - pytest hook
-    """Skip every test under tests/docker/ when docker is unavailable."""
-    if _docker_available():
-        return
+    """Apply docker-suite policy: timeout bump + skip on missing docker."""
+    docker_ok = _docker_available()
     skip_docker = pytest.mark.skip(
         reason="Docker not available or daemon not running",
     )
+    extend_timeout = pytest.mark.timeout(180)
     for item in items:
-        if "tests/docker/" in str(item.fspath).replace(os.sep, "/"):
+        if "tests/docker/" not in str(item.fspath).replace(os.sep, "/"):
+            continue
+        item.add_marker(extend_timeout)
+        if not docker_ok:
             item.add_marker(skip_docker)