diff --git a/cpython-unix/build.py b/cpython-unix/build.py
index 9bfc93ef..f0234a7d 100755
--- a/cpython-unix/build.py
+++ b/cpython-unix/build.py
@@ -933,7 +933,7 @@ def main():
         client = None
     else:
         try:
-            client = docker.from_env()
+            client = docker.from_env(timeout=600)
             client.ping()
         except Exception as e:
             print("unable to connect to Docker: %s" % e, file=sys.stderr)