diff --git a/tests/test_numbits.py b/tests/test_numbits.py
index ba6d8ec21..988cd91a5 100644
--- a/tests/test_numbits.py
+++ b/tests/test_numbits.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 # When coverage-testing ourselves, hypothesis complains about a test being
 # flaky because the first run exceeds the deadline (and fails), and the second
 # run succeeds.  Disable the deadline if we are coverage-testing.
-default_settings = settings()
+default_settings = settings(deadline=400)   # milliseconds
 if env.METACOV:
     default_settings = settings(default_settings, deadline=None)