diff --git a/src/timely-util/src/builder_async.rs b/src/timely-util/src/builder_async.rs
index 9b593243ce56c..6a5848131098d 100644
--- a/src/timely-util/src/builder_async.rs
+++ b/src/timely-util/src/builder_async.rs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ use std::rc::Rc;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
 use std::task::{Context, Poll, Waker, ready};
+use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
 
 use differential_dataflow::containers::{Columnation, TimelyStack};
 use futures_util::Stream;
@@ -571,11 +572,18 @@ impl<G: Scope> OperatorBuilder<G> {
         B: FnOnce(Vec<Capability<G::Timestamp>>) -> L,
         L: Future + 'static,
     {
+        // Threshold for warning about slow operator polls.
+        // Polls that exceed this duration may indicate operators doing too much
+        // synchronous work before hitting an await point, which can block the
+        // timely worker thread and prevent heartbeat tasks from running.
+        const SLOW_POLL_THRESHOLD: Duration = Duration::from_millis(10);
+
         let operator_waker = self.operator_waker;
         let mut input_frontiers = self.input_frontiers;
         let mut input_queues = self.input_queues;
         let mut output_flushes = self.output_flushes;
         let mut shutdown_handle = self.shutdown_handle;
+        let operator_info = self.builder.operator_info();
         self.builder.build_reschedule(move |caps| {
             let mut logic_fut = Some(Box::pin(constructor(caps)));
             move |new_frontiers| {
@@ -616,7 +624,21 @@ impl<G: Scope> OperatorBuilder<G> {
                             let waker = futures_util::task::waker_ref(&operator_waker);
                             let mut cx = Context::from_waker(&waker);
                             operator_waker.task_ready.store(false, Ordering::SeqCst);
-                            if Pin::new(fut).poll(&mut cx).is_ready() {
+                            // Track poll duration to identify operators doing too much
+                            // synchronous work before hitting an await point.
+                            let poll_start = Instant::now();
+                            let poll_result = Pin::new(fut).poll(&mut cx);
+                            let poll_duration = poll_start.elapsed();
+                            if poll_duration >= SLOW_POLL_THRESHOLD {
+                                tracing::warn!(
+                                    operator = ?operator_info.address,
+                                    global_id = operator_info.global_id,
+                                    poll_ms = poll_duration.as_millis(),
+                                    "slow operator poll detected; operator may be doing \
+                                     too much synchronous work before await points"
+                                );
+                            }
+                            if poll_result.is_ready() {
                                 // We're done with logic so deallocate the task
                                 logic_fut = None;
                             }