diff --git a/tests/t_server_null_server.sh b/tests/t_server_null_server.sh
index acf8479..40ce94b 100755
--- a/tests/t_server_null_server.sh
+++ b/tests/t_server_null_server.sh
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@
     # Allow reading this file even umask values are strict
     touch "$log"
 
+    # limit CPU time of processes to "5 minutes"
+    # (so a stuck-and-looping process will auto-terminate)
+    ulimit -t 300
+
     if [ -z "${RUN_SUDO}" ]; then
         "${server_exec}" \
          $server_conf \