diff --git a/spec/support/wait_for_ajax.rb b/spec/support/wait_for_ajax.rb
index 1bbf05a42..e05098c57 100644
--- a/spec/support/wait_for_ajax.rb
+++ b/spec/support/wait_for_ajax.rb
@@ -2,12 +2,19 @@
 
 module WaitForAjax
   def wait_for_ajax
-    Timeout.timeout(Capybara.default_max_wait_time) do
-      loop until ajax_requests_finished?
+    start_time = Time.current
+    timeout = Capybara.default_max_wait_time
+
+    loop do
+      break if ajax_requests_finished? || (Time.current - start_time) > timeout
+
+      sleep 0.1 # Short sleep time to prevent busy waiting
     end
   end
 
   def ajax_requests_finished?
+    # This method MUST NOT be interrupted. Hence, Timeout.timeout is not used here.
+    # Otherwise, Selenium and the browser driver might crash, preventing further tests from running.
     page.evaluate_script('jQuery.active').zero?
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/support/wait_for_websocket.rb b/spec/support/wait_for_websocket.rb
index 12fdc2ec6..b14068f72 100644
--- a/spec/support/wait_for_websocket.rb
+++ b/spec/support/wait_for_websocket.rb
@@ -2,12 +2,19 @@
 
 module WaitForWebsocket
   def wait_for_websocket
-    Timeout.timeout(Capybara.default_max_wait_time) do
-      loop until websocket_finished?
+    start_time = Time.current
+    timeout = Capybara.default_max_wait_time
+
+    loop do
+      break if websocket_finished? || (Time.current - start_time) > timeout
+
+      sleep 0.1 # Short sleep time to prevent busy waiting
     end
   end
 
   def websocket_finished?
+    # This method MUST NOT be interrupted. Hence, Timeout.timeout is not used here.
+    # Otherwise, Selenium and the browser driver might crash, preventing further tests from running.
     page.evaluate_script('CodeOceanEditorWebsocket?.websocket?.getReadyState() === WebSocket.CLOSED').present?
   end
 end