diff --git a/guix/scripts/offload.scm b/guix/scripts/offload.scm
index 578b3b9888..90cf97401c 100644
--- a/guix/scripts/offload.scm
+++ b/guix/scripts/offload.scm
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ (define* (open-ssh-session machine #:optional max-silent-time)
         (session (make-session #:user (build-machine-user machine)
                                #:host (build-machine-name machine)
                                #:port (build-machine-port machine)
-                               #:timeout 10       ;initial timeout (seconds)
+                               #:timeout 30       ;initial timeout (seconds)
                                ;; #:log-verbosity 'protocol
                                #:identity (build-machine-private-key machine)