diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 84e9480032..5ba433a0ad 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ through v1.5.x first ([#5907](https://github.com/spacemeshos/go-spacemesh/pull/5
 
 * [#5932](https://github.com/spacemeshos/go-spacemesh/pull/5932) Fix caching malfeasance when processing new proofs
 
+* [#5943](https://github.com/spacemeshos/go-spacemesh/pull/5943) Fix timing out querying proof in 1:N in a presence of a broken Poet.
+
+  Previously, every identitiy waited for the full timeout time (~20 minutes) before giving up.
+
 ## (v1.5.0)
 
 ### Upgrade information
diff --git a/activation/poet.go b/activation/poet.go
index c298604020..dd00bcb7a6 100644
--- a/activation/poet.go
+++ b/activation/poet.go
@@ -351,6 +351,9 @@ func (c *PoetClient) Submit(
 }
 
 func (c *PoetClient) Proof(ctx context.Context, roundID string) (*types.PoetProof, []types.Hash32, error) {
+	getProofsCtx, cancel := withConditionalTimeout(ctx, c.requestTimeout)
+	defer cancel()
+
 	c.gettingProof.Lock()
 	defer c.gettingProof.Unlock()
 
@@ -361,8 +364,6 @@ func (c *PoetClient) Proof(ctx context.Context, roundID string) (*types.PoetProo
 		}
 	}
 
-	getProofsCtx, cancel := withConditionalTimeout(ctx, c.requestTimeout)
-	defer cancel()
 	proof, members, err := c.client.Proof(getProofsCtx, roundID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("getting proof: %w", err)
diff --git a/activation/poet_client_test.go b/activation/poet_client_test.go
index 9fbb7562ab..7d069ed104 100644
--- a/activation/poet_client_test.go
+++ b/activation/poet_client_test.go
@@ -188,3 +188,37 @@ func TestPoetClient_CachesProof(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, uint64(2), proofsCalled.Load())
 }
+
+func TestPoetClient_QueryProofTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	block := make(chan struct{})
+	ts := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		<-block
+	}))
+	defer ts.Close()
+	defer close(block)
+
+	server := types.PoetServer{
+		Address: ts.URL,
+		Pubkey:  types.NewBase64Enc([]byte("pubkey")),
+	}
+	cfg := PoetConfig{
+		RequestTimeout: time.Millisecond * 100,
+	}
+	poet, err := newPoetClient(nil, server, cfg, zaptest.NewLogger(t))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	poet.client.client.HTTPClient = ts.Client()
+
+	start := time.Now()
+	eg := errgroup.Group{}
+	for range 50 {
+		eg.Go(func() error {
+			_, _, err := poet.Proof(context.Background(), "1")
+			require.ErrorIs(t, err, context.DeadlineExceeded)
+			return nil
+		})
+	}
+	eg.Wait()
+	require.WithinDuration(t, start.Add(cfg.RequestTimeout), time.Now(), time.Millisecond*300)
+}