diff --git a/netsim/ansible/tasks/readiness-check/vm-clab-ssh-check.yml b/netsim/ansible/tasks/readiness-check/vm-clab-ssh-check.yml
index cd997318c..4d41a05e2 100644
--- a/netsim/ansible/tasks/readiness-check/vm-clab-ssh-check.yml
+++ b/netsim/ansible/tasks/readiness-check/vm-clab-ssh-check.yml
@@ -10,11 +10,18 @@
   run_once: True
   any_errors_fatal: True
 
+- name: Check for 'timeout' command
+  local_action:
+    module: shell
+    cmd: which timeout || echo "FAILED"
+  changed_when: False
+  register: have_timeout
+
 - name: Execute local ssh command to check {{ netlab_device_type|default(inventory_hostname) }} readiness
   local_action:
     module: shell
     cmd: |
-      sshpass -p '{{ ansible_ssh_pass }}' \
+      {{ 'timeout -k 3s 5s' if "FAILED" not in have_timeout.stdout else '' }} sshpass -p '{{ ansible_ssh_pass }}' \
       ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no {{ netlab_ssh_args|default('') }} \
           -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null {{ ansible_user }}@{{ ansible_host }} \
           '{{ netlab_check_command | default("show version") }}'
diff --git a/netsim/devices/vjunos-router.yml b/netsim/devices/vjunos-router.yml
index 02df0fcb0..9920cac8b 100644
--- a/netsim/devices/vjunos-router.yml
+++ b/netsim/devices/vjunos-router.yml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ clab:
   group_vars:
     ansible_user: admin
     ansible_ssh_pass: admin@123
-    netlab_check_retries: 40
+    netlab_check_retries: 60
     netlab_check_delay: 10
 
 graphite.icon: router