diff --git a/utils/channel_access.py b/utils/channel_access.py
index 4b2c17e6..c9d19ff4 100644
--- a/utils/channel_access.py
+++ b/utils/channel_access.py
@@ -638,8 +638,9 @@ def assert_that_pv_exists(self, pv: str, timeout: Optional[float] = None) -> Non
             # Last try.
             if not self.ca.pv_exists(pv, timeout=1.0):
                 raise AssertionError(
-                    "Exception date time: {time}\nPV {pv} does not exist".format(
-                        time=datetime.datetime.now(), pv=pv
+                    "Exception date time: {time}\n"
+                    "PV {pv} does not exist after {timeout} seconds".format(
+                        time=datetime.datetime.now(), pv=pv, timeout=timeout
                     )
                 )
 
diff --git a/utils/ioc_launcher.py b/utils/ioc_launcher.py
index 5f6d275c..00a7bc9a 100644
--- a/utils/ioc_launcher.py
+++ b/utils/ioc_launcher.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ def __exit__(
             return
 
         try:
-            self.ca.assert_that_pv_exists(self.test_pv)
+            self.ca.assert_that_pv_exists(self.test_pv, timeout=30)
         except AssertionError as ex:
             full_pv = self.ca.create_pv_with_prefix(self.test_pv)
             raise AssertionError(