diff --git a/tests/pipeline.expect b/tests/pipeline.expect
index eff55e9e4..ce6deec98 100644
--- a/tests/pipeline.expect
+++ b/tests/pipeline.expect
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ send_line "function echo_wrap ; /bin/echo $argv ; sleep 0.1;  ; end"
 expect_prompt
 
 set timeout 10
-for {set x 0} {$x<15} {incr x} {
+for {set x 0} {$x<5} {incr x} {
   send_line "echo_wrap 1 2 3 4 | $fish_test_helper become_foreground_then_print_stderr ; or exit 1"
   expect_prompt "become_foreground_then_print_stderr done" {} unmatched { puts stderr "fish_test_helper become_foreground_then_print_stderr failed"}
 }
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ expect_prompt "jobs: There are no jobs" {} unmatched { puts stderr "Should be no
 
 send_line "function inner ; command true ; end; function outer; inner; end"
 expect_prompt
-for {set x 0} {$x<15} {incr x} {
+for {set x 0} {$x<5} {incr x} {
   send_line "outer | $fish_test_helper become_foreground_then_print_stderr ; or exit 1"
   expect_prompt "become_foreground_then_print_stderr done" {} unmatched { puts stderr "fish_test_helper become_foreground_then_print_stderr failed"}
 }