diff --git a/src/libCom/test/epicsTimerTest.cpp b/src/libCom/test/epicsTimerTest.cpp
index 02e359257..8fc11726f 100644
--- a/src/libCom/test/epicsTimerTest.cpp
+++ b/src/libCom/test/epicsTimerTest.cpp
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ inline void cancelVerify::cancel ()
 epicsTimerNotify::expireStatus cancelVerify::expire ( const epicsTime & )
 {
     double root = 3.14159;
-    for ( unsigned i = 0u; i < 10000; i++ ) {
+    for ( unsigned i = 0u; i < 1000; i++ ) {
         root = sqrt ( root );
     }
     assert ( ! this->failOutIfExpireIsCalled );