diff --git a/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/org/elasticsearch/gradle/test/ClusterConfiguration.groovy b/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/org/elasticsearch/gradle/test/ClusterConfiguration.groovy
index e64f30d48bd3f..0053c0a40b4d8 100644
--- a/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/org/elasticsearch/gradle/test/ClusterConfiguration.groovy
+++ b/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/org/elasticsearch/gradle/test/ClusterConfiguration.groovy
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ class ClusterConfiguration {
         }
         if (ant.properties.containsKey("failed.${seedNode.transportPortsFile.path}".toString())) {
             throw new GradleException("Failed to locate seed node transport file [${seedNode.transportPortsFile}]: " +
-                    "timed out waiting for it to be created after ${waitSeconds} seconds")
+                    "timed out waiting for it to be created after 40 seconds")
         }
         return seedNode.transportUri()
     }