diff --git a/gnu/services/shepherd.scm b/gnu/services/shepherd.scm
index bad089844d..0102ac3490 100644
--- a/gnu/services/shepherd.scm
+++ b/gnu/services/shepherd.scm
@@ -298,6 +298,11 @@ and return the resulting '.go' file."
               (apply register-services
                      (map load-compiled '#$(map scm->go files)))))
 
+          ;; Booting off a DVD on a slow machine can make everything slow.
+          ;; Thus, increase the timeout compared to the default 5s in the
+          ;; Shepherd 0.7.0.  See <https://bugs.gnu.org/40572>.
+          (set! (@@ (shepherd service) %pid-file-timeout) 30)
+
           (format #t "starting services...~%")
           (for-each (lambda (service)
                       ;; In the Shepherd 0.3 the 'start' method can raise