diff --git a/.gitlab/ci/host-test.yml b/.gitlab/ci/host-test.yml
index 862ce888da..d9af377d6f 100644
--- a/.gitlab/ci/host-test.yml
+++ b/.gitlab/ci/host-test.yml
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ test_nvs_coverage:
   script:
     - cd components/nvs_flash/test_nvs_host
     - make coverage_report
+  # the 'long' host tests take approx 11 hours on our current runners. Adding some margin here for possible CPU contention
+  timeout: 18 hours
 
 test_partition_table_on_host:
   extends: .host_test_template