diff --git a/wait/sql.go b/wait/sql.go
index 184d804ce1..f4601dcc62 100644
--- a/wait/sql.go
+++ b/wait/sql.go
@@ -17,11 +17,12 @@ const defaultForSqlQuery = "SELECT 1"
 // ForSQL constructs a new waitForSql strategy for the given driver
 func ForSQL(port nat.Port, driver string, url func(host string, port nat.Port) string) *waitForSql {
 	return &waitForSql{
-		Port:           port,
-		URL:            url,
-		Driver:         driver,
-		startupTimeout: defaultStartupTimeout(),
-		PollInterval:   defaultPollInterval(),
+		Port:   port,
+		URL:    url,
+		Driver: driver,
+		// Not using the default duration here because it is too low. It will never work
+		startupTimeout: 20 * time.Second,
+		PollInterval:   time.Second * 1,
 		query:          defaultForSqlQuery,
 	}
 }
@@ -96,6 +97,7 @@ func (w *waitForSql) WaitUntilReady(ctx context.Context, target StrategyTarget)
 		return fmt.Errorf("sql.Open: %v", err)
 	}
 	defer db.Close()
+
 	for {
 		select {
 		case <-ctx.Done():