diff --git a/aos/starter/subprocess_test.cc b/aos/starter/subprocess_test.cc
index 93fbf6a..71f701a 100644
--- a/aos/starter/subprocess_test.cc
+++ b/aos/starter/subprocess_test.cc
@@ -44,7 +44,10 @@
   aos::TimerHandler *exit_timer =
       event_loop.AddTimer([&event_loop]() { event_loop.Exit(); });
   event_loop.OnRun([&event_loop, exit_timer]() {
-    exit_timer->Setup(event_loop.monotonic_now() + std::chrono::seconds(1));
+    // Note: we are using the backup poll in this test to capture SIGCHLD.  This
+    // runs at 1 hz, so make sure we let it run at least once.
+    exit_timer->Setup(event_loop.monotonic_now() +
+                      std::chrono::milliseconds(1500));
   });
 
   event_loop.Run();
@@ -83,8 +86,10 @@
   echo_stderr.set_capture_stderr(true);
 
   echo_stderr.Start();
+  // Note: we are using the backup poll in this test to capture SIGCHLD.  This
+  // runs at 1 hz, so make sure we let it run at least once.
   event_loop.AddTimer([&event_loop]() { event_loop.Exit(); })
-      ->Setup(event_loop.monotonic_now() + std::chrono::seconds(1));
+      ->Setup(event_loop.monotonic_now() + std::chrono::milliseconds(1500));
 
   event_loop.Run();