diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index bfbe7cb..7edc5b4 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@ AGENTEVAL_OPENCLAW_AUTH_TOKEN=change-me-in-production
 # Optional override of the built frontend dist path (default: frontend/web/dist).
 # AGENTEVAL_FRONTEND_DIST_PATH=/app/frontend/web/dist
 
+# ── Evaluation ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Seconds to wait for the target's reply per turn before recording no-reply.
+# Raise this for slow targets (e.g. digital employees averaging near 30s).
+AGENTEVAL_POLL_REPLY_TIMEOUT=30
+
 # ── Webhook ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # If set, AgentEvalTool will POST run completion summaries to this URL.
 # Example: AGENTEVAL_WEBHOOK_URL=https://your-service.example.com/webhooks/agenteval
diff --git a/backend/agenteval/config/settings.py b/backend/agenteval/config/settings.py
index 7aa9b7c..032bdf1 100644
--- a/backend/agenteval/config/settings.py
+++ b/backend/agenteval/config/settings.py
@@ -76,6 +76,12 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
         description="Comma-separated list of allowed file extensions for upload.",
     )
 
+    # ── Evaluation ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+    poll_reply_timeout: float = Field(
+        default=30.0,
+        description="Seconds to wait for the target's reply per turn before recording no-reply.",
+    )
+
     # ── Webhook ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
     webhook_url: Optional[str] = Field(
         default=None,
diff --git a/backend/agenteval/evaluation/engine.py b/backend/agenteval/evaluation/engine.py
index d2f1957..f54512c 100644
--- a/backend/agenteval/evaluation/engine.py
+++ b/backend/agenteval/evaluation/engine.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from typing import Any, Callable, Optional
 
 from agenteval.channels.base import EvalChannel
 from agenteval.channels.factory import ChannelFactory
+from agenteval.config import get_settings
 from agenteval.evaluation.judgement import CaseOutcome, RuleOutcome, combine_case_outcome
 from agenteval.evaluation.rules import RuleResult, get_rule
 from agenteval.model_gateway import ModelGateway
@@ -85,7 +86,9 @@ class EvalEngine:
         self.run_repo = run_repo or RunRepository(self.session)
         self.result_repo = result_repo or ResultRepository(self.session)
         self.cancel_token = cancel_token or asyncio.Event()
-        self.timeout_config = timeout_config or TimeoutConfig()
+        self.timeout_config = timeout_config or TimeoutConfig(
+            poll_reply=get_settings().poll_reply_timeout,
+        )
         self.triggered_by = triggered_by
         self._case_semaphore = asyncio.Semaphore(max(1, max_concurrent_cases))
         # Collects fatal case-level errors (e.g. dynamic message generation
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_settings.py b/tests/unit/test_settings.py
index c16b5ba..298daa2 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_settings.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_settings.py
@@ -39,3 +39,9 @@ def test_derived_falls_back_when_only_wildcard():
 def test_derived_falls_back_when_empty():
     s = Settings(allowed_origins=[])
     assert s.openclaw_ws_origin == "http://localhost:8000"
+
+
+def test_poll_reply_timeout_default_and_env(monkeypatch):
+    assert Settings().poll_reply_timeout == 30.0
+    monkeypatch.setenv("AGENTEVAL_POLL_REPLY_TIMEOUT", "60")
+    assert Settings().poll_reply_timeout == 60.0