diff --git a/products/jbrowse-web/src/tests/Loader.test.tsx b/products/jbrowse-web/src/tests/Loader.test.tsx
index 58d7f12f3a..9ea845b98b 100644
--- a/products/jbrowse-web/src/tests/Loader.test.tsx
+++ b/products/jbrowse-web/src/tests/Loader.test.tsx
@@ -156,10 +156,13 @@ describe('<Loader />', () => {
     )
 
     await findByText('Help')
-    await waitFor(() => {
-      expect(sessionStorage.length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
-    })
-  })
+    await waitFor(
+      () => {
+        expect(sessionStorage.length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
+      },
+      { timeout: 10000 },
+    )
+  }, 10000)
 
   // minimal session with plugin in our plugins.json
   // {"session":{"id":"xSHu7qGJN","name":"test","sessionPlugins":[{"url":"https://unpkg.com/jbrowse-plugin-msaview/dist/jbrowse-plugin-msaview.umd.production.min.js"}]}}