diff --git a/.github/workflows/pm-bundle.yml b/.github/workflows/pm-bundle.yml
index 6e7c0919dc..05e4aee21e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pm-bundle.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pm-bundle.yml
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@ jobs:
   bundle:
     name: bundle ${{ matrix.target.label }}
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.target.runner }}
-    timeout-minutes: 45
+    # Leave time for setup, cache saves and smoke tests around the wheel build.
+    timeout-minutes: 180
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
diff --git a/scripts/bundles/native.py b/scripts/bundles/native.py
index 5d28e0bea3..7895348f8d 100644
--- a/scripts/bundles/native.py
+++ b/scripts/bundles/native.py
@@ -195,8 +195,10 @@ def _stage_native(args) -> int:
     from pm.package import InstallError
 
     try:
+        # Cold native wheels need a larger budget than interactive installs.
         build_environment(source=repo_dir, python=python_bin, out=venv_dir,
-                          env=env, cache=cache, all_extras=True, sealed=True, explicit=True)
+                          env=env, cache=cache, all_extras=True, sealed=True, explicit=True,
+                          timeout=2 * 60 * 60)
     except InstallError as exc:
         print(f"✗ venv: {exc}")
         return 1
diff --git a/tests/scripts/test_bundle_native.py b/tests/scripts/test_bundle_native.py
index df58d5f2ff..194e636a22 100644
--- a/tests/scripts/test_bundle_native.py
+++ b/tests/scripts/test_bundle_native.py
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ from scripts.bundles import native
 
 
 def test_bundle_stages_git_tree_and_runs_native_children_before_manifest(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    import inspect
+
     from hermes_cli.runtime_paths import site_packages
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(Path, "home", lambda: tmp_path / "home")
@@ -63,6 +65,7 @@ def test_bundle_stages_git_tree_and_runs_native_children_before_manifest(tmp_pat
     monkeypatch.setattr("pm.extras.ANCHORS", {"payloadtest": "bundle_probe.present"})
     import pm
     real_build = pm.build_environment
+    install_timeout = inspect.signature(real_build).parameters["timeout"].default
     calls = []
     witness = tmp_path / "inventory-python.json"
     fail_inventory = False
@@ -70,6 +73,7 @@ def test_bundle_stages_git_tree_and_runs_native_children_before_manifest(tmp_pat
     def build(**kwargs):
         assert "uv" not in kwargs
         assert kwargs["sealed"] is True
+        assert kwargs.get("timeout", install_timeout) > install_timeout
         calls.append(kwargs)
         assert not (output / "manifest.json").exists()
         marker = json.loads((output / "pm-runtime/pm-runtime.json").read_text())