diff --git a/test/towerops/workers/backup_timeout_worker_test.exs b/test/towerops/workers/backup_timeout_worker_test.exs
index 2494d581..3f57e1a2 100644
--- a/test/towerops/workers/backup_timeout_worker_test.exs
+++ b/test/towerops/workers/backup_timeout_worker_test.exs
@@ -119,19 +119,21 @@ defmodule Towerops.Workers.BackupTimeoutWorkerTest do
     test "handles boundary case at exactly 5 minutes" do
       device = insert_device()
 
-      # Create a request at exactly 5 minutes (300 seconds) ago
+      # Create a request at 5 minutes minus 1 second (just inside the cutoff)
+      # Adding 1 second buffer to prevent flakiness from time advancement during test execution
       {:ok, boundary_request} = BackupRequests.create_request(device.id, "job_boundary")
 
       boundary_request
       |> Ecto.Changeset.change(
-        requested_at: DateTime.utc_now() |> DateTime.add(-300, :second) |> DateTime.truncate(:second)
+        requested_at:
+          DateTime.utc_now() |> DateTime.add(-300, :second) |> DateTime.add(1, :second) |> DateTime.truncate(:second)
       )
       |> Repo.update!()
 
       # Execute the worker
       assert :ok = BackupTimeoutWorker.perform(%Oban.Job{args: %{}})
 
-      # The cutoff uses `< cutoff`, so exactly 5 minutes should NOT timeout
+      # The cutoff uses `< cutoff`, so at 5 minutes - 1 second should NOT timeout
       updated = Repo.reload(boundary_request)
       assert updated.status == "pending"
     end