diff --git a/esmvaltool/utils/recipe_test_workflow/flow.cylc b/esmvaltool/utils/recipe_test_workflow/flow.cylc
index 07d36e598e..c61e5b8f42 100644
--- a/esmvaltool/utils/recipe_test_workflow/flow.cylc
+++ b/esmvaltool/utils/recipe_test_workflow/flow.cylc
@@ -63,16 +63,22 @@
 
     [[install_env_file]]
         platform = localhost
+        execution retry delays = PT1M, PT5M, PT15M
+        submission retry delays = PT1M, PT5M, PT15M
         [[[environment]]]
             SITE = {{ SITE }}
             ENV_FILE_SITE_PATH=${CYLC_WORKFLOW_RUN_DIR}/site/${SITE}/env-file
             SHARE_BIN_DIR=${CYLC_WORKFLOW_SHARE_DIR}/bin
 
     [[get_esmval]]
+        execution retry delays = PT1M, PT5M, PT15M
+        submission retry delays = PT1M, PT5M, PT15M
         [[[environment]]]
             ROSE_APP_OPT_CONF_KEYS = {{ SITE }}
 
     [[configure]]
+        execution retry delays = PT1M, PT5M, PT15M
+        submission retry delays = PT1M, PT5M, PT15M
         [[[environment]]]
             ROSE_TASK_APP = configure
             AUXILIARY_DATA_DIR = {{ AUXILIARY_DATA_DIR }}
@@ -152,6 +158,8 @@
             KGO_DIR = ${KGO_ROOT_PATH}/${RECIPE_NAME}
 
     [[generate_report]]
+        execution retry delays = PT1M, PT5M, PT15M
+        submission retry delays = PT1M, PT5M, PT15M
         [[[environment]]]
             # By default opt configurations must exist. Paretheses make the opt
             # file optional, which is required as only a DKRZ opt file exists.
@@ -162,5 +170,7 @@
 
     [[housekeeping]]
         platform = localhost
+        execution retry delays = PT1M, PT5M, PT15M
+        submission retry delays = PT1M, PT5M, PT15M
 
 {% include "site/" ~ SITE ~ "/runtime.cylc" %}