diff --git a/test_docker_compose.sh b/test_docker_compose.sh
index 065e9633f738282b499bd295a8db824ec8c6efd2..3da4176851b10a3f9f85598804c3dd82f3b7855f 100755
--- a/test_docker_compose.sh
+++ b/test_docker_compose.sh
@@ -110,7 +110,13 @@ curl --location http://0.0.0.0:8080/api/projects/$PROJECT_ID/genome_full \
 if [ ! -s log/07-*.csv ]; then exit 07; fi
 
 echo "Waiting for worktable"
+I=0
 while  [[ "$(jq .status.worktable projects/project_$PROJECT_ID/meta.json)" != "\"READY\"" ]]; do
+  I=$(expr $I + 1)
+  if [ $I -gt 120 ]; then
+    echo "Waited too long, exiting"
+    exit 77
+  fi
   echo "... waiting for worktable"
   sleep 1
 done