diff --git a/d2cli/main.go b/d2cli/main.go
index 74a24c17e..0bfa4edf4 100644
--- a/d2cli/main.go
+++ b/d2cli/main.go
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import (
 	"oss.terrastruct.com/d2/d2themes"
 	"oss.terrastruct.com/d2/d2themes/d2themescatalog"
 	"oss.terrastruct.com/d2/lib/background"
+	"oss.terrastruct.com/d2/lib/env"
 	"oss.terrastruct.com/d2/lib/imgbundler"
 	ctxlog "oss.terrastruct.com/d2/lib/log"
 	"oss.terrastruct.com/d2/lib/pdf"
@@ -298,8 +299,16 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, ms *xmain.State) (err error) {
 		return w.run()
 	}
 
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, time.Minute*2)
-	defer cancel()
+	timeout := time.Minute * 2
+	if seconds, has := env.Timeout(); has {
+		timeout = time.Duration(seconds) * time.Second
+	}
+
+	if timeout > 0 {
+		var cancel func()
+		ctx, cancel = context.WithTimeout(ctx, timeout)
+		defer cancel()
+	}
 
 	_, written, err := compile(ctx, ms, plugin, renderOpts, fontFamily, *animateIntervalFlag, inputPath, outputPath, *bundleFlag, *forceAppendixFlag, pw.Page)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/d2plugin/exec.go b/d2plugin/exec.go
index 4a5836f35..b357267af 100644
--- a/d2plugin/exec.go
+++ b/d2plugin/exec.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"oss.terrastruct.com/util-go/xmain"
 
 	"oss.terrastruct.com/d2/d2graph"
+	"oss.terrastruct.com/d2/lib/env"
 )
 
 // execPlugin uses the binary at pathname with the plugin protocol to implement
@@ -147,8 +148,15 @@ func (p *execPlugin) Info(ctx context.Context) (_ *PluginInfo, err error) {
 }
 
 func (p *execPlugin) Layout(ctx context.Context, g *d2graph.Graph) error {
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, time.Minute)
-	defer cancel()
+	timeout := time.Minute
+	if seconds, has := env.Timeout(); has {
+		timeout = time.Duration(seconds) * time.Second
+	}
+	if timeout > 0 {
+		var cancel func()
+		ctx, cancel = context.WithTimeout(ctx, timeout)
+		defer cancel()
+	}
 
 	graphBytes, err := d2graph.SerializeGraph(g)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/e2etests/report/main.go b/e2etests/report/main.go
index a2ef1896a..905aa0800 100644
--- a/e2etests/report/main.go
+++ b/e2etests/report/main.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"text/template"
 	"time"
 
+	"oss.terrastruct.com/d2/lib/env"
 	"oss.terrastruct.com/d2/lib/log"
 )
 
@@ -69,8 +70,17 @@ func main() {
 
 	if !*skipTests {
 		ctx := log.Stderr(context.Background())
-		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, 2*time.Minute)
-		defer cancel()
+
+		timeout := 2 * time.Minute
+		if seconds, has := env.Timeout(); has {
+			timeout = time.Duration(seconds) * time.Second
+		}
+		if timeout > 0 {
+			var cancel func()
+			ctx, cancel = context.WithTimeout(ctx, timeout)
+			defer cancel()
+		}
+
 		// don't want to pass empty args to CommandContext
 		args := []string{"test", testDir, testMatchString}
 		if cpuProfileStr != "" {
diff --git a/lib/env/env.go b/lib/env/env.go
index 07ba22eef..c37eea66d 100644
--- a/lib/env/env.go
+++ b/lib/env/env.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package env
 
 import (
 	"os"
+	"strconv"
 )
 
 func Test() bool {
@@ -25,3 +26,13 @@ func DevOnly() bool {
 func SkipGraphDiffTests() bool {
 	return os.Getenv("SKIP_GRAPH_DIFF_TESTS") != ""
 }
+
+func Timeout() (int, bool) {
+	if s := os.Getenv("D2_TIMEOUT"); s != "" {
+		i, err := strconv.ParseInt(s, 10, 64)
+		if err == nil {
+			return int(i), true
+		}
+	}
+	return -1, false
+}