diff --git a/pkg/cmd/roachtest/tests/copyfrom.go b/pkg/cmd/roachtest/tests/copyfrom.go
index 9ce5427e256e..7575a349253c 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/roachtest/tests/copyfrom.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/roachtest/tests/copyfrom.go
@@ -137,7 +137,9 @@ func runCopyFromCRDB(ctx context.Context, t test.Test, c cluster.Cluster, sf int
 	// Enable the verbose logging on relevant files to have better understanding
 	// in case the test fails.
 	startOpts.RoachprodOpts.ExtraArgs = append(startOpts.RoachprodOpts.ExtraArgs, "--vmodule=copy_from=2,insert=2")
-	c.Start(ctx, t.L(), startOpts, install.MakeClusterSettings(), c.All())
+	// roachtest frequently runs on overloaded instances and can timeout as a result
+	clusterSettings := install.MakeClusterSettings(install.ClusterSettingsOption{"kv.closed_timestamp.target_duration": "60s"})
+	c.Start(ctx, t.L(), startOpts, clusterSettings, c.All())
 	initTest(ctx, t, c, sf)
 	db, err := c.ConnE(ctx, t.L(), 1)
 	require.NoError(t, err)