diff --git a/test/e2e/arksurvival_cluster_persistence_e2e_test.go b/test/e2e/arksurvival_cluster_persistence_e2e_test.go
index 39e32a7be..0e73278a1 100644
--- a/test/e2e/arksurvival_cluster_persistence_e2e_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/arksurvival_cluster_persistence_e2e_test.go
@@ -115,7 +115,8 @@ func TestGameServer_ArkSurvival_ClusterPersistence(t *testing.T) {
 	// the ARK server itself was started against it: hermsi/ark-server passes
 	// -ClusterDirOverride=/cluster and -clusterid once CLUSTER_ID is set. The
 	// server starts only after SteamCMD has installed ~25GB, hence the wait.
-	envInstance.Eventually(t, 45*time.Minute, func() (bool, string) {
+	// It stays at 30m so the whole test fits make test-e2e-keep's 50m timeout.
+	envInstance.Eventually(t, 30*time.Minute, func() (bool, string) {
 		out, err := envInstance.KubectlExec(t, ns, "pod/"+gsName+"-0", "pgrep", "-af", "ShooterGameServer")
 		if err != nil {
 			return false, "ShooterGameServer not running yet: " + err.Error() + " out=" + out
diff --git a/test/e2e/arksurvivalevolved_bot_e2e_test.go b/test/e2e/arksurvivalevolved_bot_e2e_test.go
index 81236ed92..65e84fae5 100644
--- a/test/e2e/arksurvivalevolved_bot_e2e_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/arksurvivalevolved_bot_e2e_test.go
@@ -42,10 +42,13 @@ func TestGameServer_ArkSurvivalEvolvedBot_Query(t *testing.T) {
 			ReqCPU: "2", ReqMem: "8Gi",
 			LimCPU: "4", LimMem: "16Gi",
 		},
-		ReadyTimeout:  10 * time.Minute,
-		ProbePort:     27015,
-		ProbeDeadline: 4 * time.Minute,
-		ExpectDepth:   joindepth.QUERY,
+		ReadyTimeout: 10 * time.Minute,
+		ProbePort:    27015,
+		// Running comes before SteamCMD finishes the ~25GB install, so the
+		// positive probe waits for it; the negative control stays short.
+		ProbeDeadline:    30 * time.Minute,
+		NegativeDeadline: 4 * time.Minute,
+		ExpectDepth:      joindepth.QUERY,
 		// The operator injects its managed RCON password as ADMIN_PASSWORD,
 		// which hermsi/ark-server writes as ServerAdminPassword. Path A below
 		// proves the agent authenticates with it.
diff --git a/test/e2e/gamebot_helpers_e2e_test.go b/test/e2e/gamebot_helpers_e2e_test.go
index 58aee501b..dd8cd1fbe 100644
--- a/test/e2e/gamebot_helpers_e2e_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/gamebot_helpers_e2e_test.go
@@ -152,14 +152,16 @@ type gameBotSpec struct {
 	ReadyTimeout  time.Duration
 	ProbePort     int
 	ProbeDeadline time.Duration
-	ExpectDepth   joindepth.JoinDepth
-	ProbeArgs     []string
-	Probes        map[string]any // spec.probes; nil means the operator sets no probe
-	RCON          map[string]any // spec.rcon
-	ConsoleMode   string         // spec.consoleMode
-	Actions       []any          // spec.capabilities.actions; nil means no actions
-	Quiesce       map[string]any // optional backup declaration
-	Control       pathAControl   // Path A: drive the server through Gameplane (optional)
+	// NegativeDeadline bounds the negative-control probe; zero means ProbeDeadline.
+	NegativeDeadline time.Duration
+	ExpectDepth      joindepth.JoinDepth
+	ProbeArgs        []string
+	Probes           map[string]any // spec.probes; nil means the operator sets no probe
+	RCON             map[string]any // spec.rcon
+	ConsoleMode      string         // spec.consoleMode
+	Actions          []any          // spec.capabilities.actions; nil means no actions
+	Quiesce          map[string]any // optional backup declaration
+	Control          pathAControl   // Path A: drive the server through Gameplane (optional)
 }
 
 // runGameBotTest creates the GameTemplate + GameServer, waits for
@@ -224,12 +226,16 @@ func runGameBotTest(t *testing.T, s gameBotSpec) (string, string) {
 	// (the probe pod's own 127.0.0.1) with port 1, which is reserved and never
 	// listens. The probe will immediately get connection refused, proving
 	// transport failure, not a measurement error.
+	negDeadline := s.NegativeDeadline
+	if negDeadline == 0 {
+		negDeadline = s.ProbeDeadline
+	}
 	negCtrlResult := envInstance.RunGameProbe(t, GameProbe{
 		GameNS:      "default",
 		GSName:      "negative-control-" + s.Game,
 		Game:        s.Game,
 		Port:        1,
-		Deadline:    s.ProbeDeadline,
+		Deadline:    negDeadline,
 		ExpectDepth: s.ExpectDepth,
 		ExpectFail:  true,
 		Args:        s.ProbeArgs,