diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/mailreaders/thunderbird/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/networking/mailreaders/thunderbird/default.nix
index 1f58ec59a7c..dd339ef1c1a 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/networking/mailreaders/thunderbird/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/mailreaders/thunderbird/default.nix
@@ -332,5 +332,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     ];
     platforms = platforms.linux;
     license = licenses.mpl20;
+    timeout = 28800; # eight hours
   };
 }