diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 38d5fc6fb..e078f9a7c 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -599,6 +599,9 @@ compile-training:
     # CUDA stubs from ci-builder image — compiles CUDA kernels without GPU hardware.
     # L4 GPU = compute capability 8.9 → candle-kernels generates sm_89 PTX
     CUDA_COMPUTE_CAP: "89"
+    # When all 8 service jobs fire (Cargo.toml change), the node is fully loaded.
+    # Increase pod scheduling timeout so training waits for service jobs to finish.
+    KUBERNETES_POLL_TIMEOUT: "1200"
   rules:
     - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == "main" && $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"
       changes: