diff --git a/src/sysfiles.c b/src/sysfiles.c
index 3294e78998..bacc8c7505 100644
--- a/src/sysfiles.c
+++ b/src/sysfiles.c
@@ -1463,7 +1463,7 @@ void SyStopAlarm(UInt *seconds, UInt *nanoseconds) {
 
   timer_settime(syTimer, 0, &tv, &buf);
   SyAlarmRunning = 0;
-  signal(TIMER_SIGNAL, SIG_DFL);
+  signal(TIMER_SIGNAL, SIG_IGN);
 
   if (seconds)
     *seconds = (UInt)buf.it_value.tv_sec;
@@ -1529,7 +1529,7 @@ void SyInstallAlarm ( UInt seconds, UInt nanoseconds )
   SyAlarmRunning = 1;
   SyAlarmHasGoneOff = 0;
   if (setitimer(ITIMER_VIRTUAL, &tv, NULL)) {
-    signal(SIGVTALRM, SIG_DFL);
+    signal(SIGVTALRM, SIG_IGN);
     ErrorReturnVoid("Could not set interval timer", 0L, 0L, "you can return to ignore");
   }
   return;
@@ -1544,7 +1544,7 @@ void SyStopAlarm(UInt *seconds, UInt *nanoseconds) {
 
   setitimer(ITIMER_VIRTUAL, &tv, &buf);
   SyAlarmRunning = 0;
-  signal(SIGVTALRM, SIG_DFL);
+  signal(SIGVTALRM, SIG_IGN);
 
   if (seconds)
     *seconds = (UInt)buf.it_value.tv_sec;
diff --git a/tst/testinstall/timeout.tst b/tst/testinstall/timeout.tst
index de98ca86b8..4f5a55432f 100644
--- a/tst/testinstall/timeout.tst
+++ b/tst/testinstall/timeout.tst
@@ -13,13 +13,13 @@ gap> spinFor(10,0);
 0
 gap> CallWithTimeout(50000,spinFor,1);
 [  ]
-gap> CallWithTimeout(5000,spinFor,10000);
+gap> CallWithTimeout(5000,spinFor,50000);
 fail
 gap> CallWithTimeout(50000,spinFor,1,1);
 [ 1 ]
 gap> CallWithTimeoutList(50000,spinFor,[1,1]);
 [ 1 ]
-gap> CallWithTimeoutList(5000,spinFor,[10000,1]);
+gap> CallWithTimeoutList(5000,spinFor,[50000,1]);
 fail
 gap> CallWithTimeoutList(50000,spinFor,[1]);
 [  ]