diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7cb742d..7861ad3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -125,7 +125,6 @@ MVP:
 - build/log and build/init-log api endpoints
 - report build status to github
 - secure github webhooks
-- k8s init container timeout
 - better error handling in API (return 400 on user errors)
 - basic tests
 - publish runboat container image
diff --git a/src/runboat/kubefiles/initialize.yaml b/src/runboat/kubefiles/initialize.yaml
index 17b4b34..e3348f5 100644
--- a/src/runboat/kubefiles/initialize.yaml
+++ b/src/runboat/kubefiles/initialize.yaml
@@ -32,3 +32,4 @@ spec:
             name: runboat-scripts
       restartPolicy: Never
   backoffLimit: 0
+  activeDeadlineSeconds: 1200