diff --git a/.github/scripts/backend-tests-workflow-contract_test.py b/.github/scripts/backend-tests-workflow-contract_test.py
index 396abccc9a..8ca6aa34c0 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/backend-tests-workflow-contract_test.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/backend-tests-workflow-contract_test.py
@@ -51,6 +51,11 @@ class BackendTestsWorkflowContractTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn('"postgres-18:${POSTGRES_18_RESULT}"', self.workflow)
         self.assertIn("TestPreviousStableUpgrade", self.workflow)
 
+    def test_windows_job_has_headroom_for_hosted_runner_variance(self) -> None:
+        _, marker, windows_job = self.workflow.partition("  test-windows:\n")
+        self.assertTrue(marker)
+        self.assertIn("timeout-minutes: 40", windows_job)
+
     def test_base_image_mirrors_postgres_18_at_the_same_digest(self) -> None:
         self.assertIn("POSTGRES_18_DIGEST: " + POSTGRES_18_DIGEST, self.base_image_workflow)
         self.assertIn("POSTGRES_18_SOURCE: docker.io/library/postgres:18@" + POSTGRES_18_DIGEST, self.base_image_workflow)
diff --git a/.github/workflows/backend-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/backend-tests.yml
index 6898067f99..9f3d8f8f14 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/backend-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/backend-tests.yml
@@ -694,9 +694,10 @@ jobs:
     needs: changes
     if: needs.changes.outputs.run == 'true'
     runs-on: windows-latest
-    # The race-sensitive Windows package suite can approach 20 minutes on a
-    # busy hosted runner; keep the cap finite while allowing runner variance.
-    timeout-minutes: 30
+    # Dependency hydration, build, vet, and the race-sensitive package suite
+    # can consume 30 minutes on a cold hosted runner. Keep the cap finite while
+    # leaving the final targeted regression checks time to run.
+    timeout-minutes: 40
     # Least-privilege: this job only reads source and runs tests, no PR/issue
     # writes or release operations. Flagged by CodeQL workflow audit + matching
     # CodeRabbit nitpick.