diff --git a/.bazelrc b/.bazelrc
index 562086aca19..b28ccb12ffa 100644
--- a/.bazelrc
+++ b/.bazelrc
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@ build --verbose_failures
 build --build_tag_filters=-off-by-default,-slow
 test --test_tag_filters=-off-by-default,-slow
 
+# use lower test timeouts: https://bazel.build/reference/test-encyclopedia#role-test-runner
+# corrseponds to small,medium,large,enormous tests (medium is default)
+test --test_timeout=1,15,60,240
+
 # Not using bzlmod for dependencies yet
 common --noenable_bzlmod