diff --git a/deploy_script.sh b/deploy_script.sh
index e59a2c1..7d81782 100644
--- a/deploy_script.sh
+++ b/deploy_script.sh
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ main() {
         local bootstrap_url
         docker exec paperclip_app rm -f /paperclip/instances/default/config.json 2>/dev/null || true
         docker exec paperclip_app chown -R node:node /paperclip 2>/dev/null || true
-        docker exec -u node paperclip_app npx paperclipai onboard --yes --bind lan >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+        timeout 5 docker exec -u node paperclip_app npx paperclipai onboard --yes --bind lan >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
         docker restart paperclip_app >/dev/null
         sleep 5
         bootstrap_url=$(docker exec -u node paperclip_app npx paperclipai auth bootstrap-ceo 2>/dev/null || echo "")