diff --git a/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/api/routes/services.py b/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/api/routes/services.py
index 11439a8dd4cc..2d385347ffc4 100644
--- a/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/api/routes/services.py
+++ b/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/api/routes/services.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 import logging
 import urllib.parse
 from collections import deque
-from functools import lru_cache
 from typing import Any, Deque, Dict, List, Optional, Set, Tuple
 
 from aiocache import cached
@@ -40,6 +39,7 @@
 }
 
 DIRECTOR_CACHING_TTL = 5 * MINUTE
+LIST_SERVICES_CACHING_TTL = 30
 
 
 def _prepare_service_details(
@@ -70,20 +70,19 @@ def _prepare_service_details(
     return validated_service
 
 
-def async_lru_cache(*lru_cache_args, **lru_cache_kwargs):
-    def async_lru_cache_decorator(async_function):
-        @lru_cache(*lru_cache_args, **lru_cache_kwargs)
-        def cached_async_function(*args, **kwargs):
-            coroutine = async_function(*args, **kwargs)
-            return asyncio.ensure_future(coroutine)
-
-        return cached_async_function
-
-    return async_lru_cache_decorator
+def _build_cache_key(fct, *args, **kwargs):
+    return f"{fct.__name__}_{kwargs['user_id']}_{kwargs['x_simcore_products_name']}_{kwargs['details']}"
 
 
+# NOTE: this call is pretty expensive and can be called several times
+# (when e2e runs or by the webserver when listing projects) therefore
+# a cache is setup here
 @router.get("", response_model=List[ServiceOut], **RESPONSE_MODEL_POLICY)
 @cancellable_request
+@cached(
+    ttl=LIST_SERVICES_CACHING_TTL,
+    key_builder=_build_cache_key,
+)
 async def list_services(
     request: Request,  # pylint:disable=unused-argument
     user_id: PositiveInt,