diff --git a/lib/tempest b/lib/tempest
index a50b25ed19..ec1fc90b76 100644
--- a/lib/tempest
+++ b/lib/tempest
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ TEMPEST_STATE_PATH=${TEMPEST_STATE_PATH:=$DATA_DIR/tempest}
 NOVA_SOURCE_DIR=$DEST/nova
 
 BUILD_INTERVAL=1
-BUILD_TIMEOUT=400
+BUILD_TIMEOUT=196
 
 
 BOTO_MATERIALS_PATH="$FILES/images/s3-materials/cirros-0.3.1"