diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 9b08ce7..06fe080 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@ dev = [
 testpaths = ["tests"]
 asyncio_mode = "strict"
 timeout = 10
+# Bound the test function only, not fixture setup. Testcontainers' container
+# startup is charged to whichever test first pulls a session-scoped container
+# fixture; on a cold Docker cache that is ~25s and would trip the 10s budget
+# for every integration test, regardless of how fast the test itself is.
+timeout_func_only = true
 markers = [
     "unit: fast tests with no external services",
     "integration: tests against a real disposable service",