diff --git a/itest/tapd_harness.go b/itest/tapd_harness.go
index 08c0e9353..ba1f2b271 100644
--- a/itest/tapd_harness.go
+++ b/itest/tapd_harness.go
@@ -257,7 +257,8 @@ func newTapdHarness(t *testing.T, ht *harnessTest, cfg tapdConfig,
 		BackoffCfg:         &hashmailBackoffCfg,
 	}
 	finalCfg.UniverseRpcCourier = &proof.UniverseRpcCourierCfg{
-		BackoffCfg: &universeRpcBackoffCfg,
+		BackoffCfg:            &universeRpcBackoffCfg,
+		ServiceRequestTimeout: 2 * time.Second,
 	}
 
 	switch typedProofCourier := (opts.proofCourier).(type) {