diff --git a/packages/@n8n/config/src/configs/__tests__/scheduler.config.test.ts b/packages/@n8n/config/src/configs/__tests__/scheduler.config.test.ts
index b09770ca8d2..bcf9d3944ed 100644
--- a/packages/@n8n/config/src/configs/__tests__/scheduler.config.test.ts
+++ b/packages/@n8n/config/src/configs/__tests__/scheduler.config.test.ts
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ describe('SchedulerConfig', () => {
 			expect(scheduler.allowSkipDurableScheduler).toBe(false);
 			expect(scheduler.maxAttempts).toBe(5);
 			expect(scheduler.enabledForPollTriggers).toBe(false);
-			expect(scheduler.pollTimeoutSeconds).toBe(60);
+			expect(scheduler.pollTimeoutSeconds).toBe(45);
 		});
 	});
 
diff --git a/packages/@n8n/config/src/configs/scheduler.config.ts b/packages/@n8n/config/src/configs/scheduler.config.ts
index 8d4a8869189..933d4ef8eb7 100644
--- a/packages/@n8n/config/src/configs/scheduler.config.ts
+++ b/packages/@n8n/config/src/configs/scheduler.config.ts
@@ -270,20 +270,22 @@ export class SchedulerConfig {
 
 	/**
 	 * How long, in seconds, a single poll of an external source (an inbox, an API)
-	 * may take before it is abandoned. Defaults to 60 seconds.
+	 * may take before it is abandoned. Defaults to 45 seconds.
 	 *
 	 * An abandoned poll skips no data: its position in the source is left where it
 	 * was and the next scheduled poll covers the same ground. It counts as a poll
 	 * failure, so a source that keeps timing out is polled at a widening interval.
 	 * Guards against a poll stuck on an unresponsive source running indefinitely.
 	 *
-	 * Keep it at or below {@link leaseDurationSeconds}: a poll allowed to run
-	 * longer than the claim on its run can still be in flight when that claim
-	 * expires and another instance takes the run over. The scheduler warns at
-	 * startup if it doesn't. Must be greater than 0.
+	 * Keep it below {@link leaseDurationSeconds}: the deadline only starts after
+	 * the occurrence's setup reads, so a poll allowed to run as long as the claim
+	 * on its run can still be in flight when that claim expires and another
+	 * instance takes the run over. The default leaves that headroom, and the
+	 * scheduler warns at startup when the timeout reaches the lease duration.
+	 * Must be greater than 0.
 	 */
 	@Env('N8N_SCHEDULER_POLL_TIMEOUT', positiveIntSchema)
-	pollTimeoutSeconds: number = Time.minutes.toSeconds;
+	pollTimeoutSeconds: number = 45;
 
 	/**
 	 * Whether a poll trigger's cursor advance and the execution it produced are saved
diff --git a/packages/@n8n/config/test/config.test.ts b/packages/@n8n/config/test/config.test.ts
index 98810659acb..75c7ec6ba96 100644
--- a/packages/@n8n/config/test/config.test.ts
+++ b/packages/@n8n/config/test/config.test.ts
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ describe('GlobalConfig', () => {
 			maxConcurrentPasses: 10,
 			triggerNodeMode: 'legacy',
 			enabledForPollTriggers: false,
-			pollTimeoutSeconds: 60,
+			pollTimeoutSeconds: 45,
 			allowSkipDurableScheduler: false,
 			maxAttempts: 5,
 			misfireGraceSeconds: 60,
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/scheduling/__tests__/durable-scheduler.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/scheduling/__tests__/durable-scheduler.test.ts
index 05b249123ad..49580434cd4 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/scheduling/__tests__/durable-scheduler.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/scheduling/__tests__/durable-scheduler.test.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ describe('DurableScheduler', () => {
 		materializationWindowSeconds = 60,
 		misfireGraceSeconds = 60,
 		enabledForPollTriggers = false,
-		pollTimeoutSeconds = 60,
+		pollTimeoutSeconds = 45,
 		leaseDurationSeconds = 60,
 	} = {}) {
 		const inner = mock<Scheduler & SchedulerPasses>();
@@ -185,13 +185,28 @@ describe('DurableScheduler', () => {
 			);
 		});
 
-		it('does not warn when the timeout fits inside the lease', () => {
+		// The poll deadline starts after the occurrence's setup reads, so a timeout
+		// equal to the lease already lets a full-length poll outlive it.
+		it('warns when the timeout equals the lease', () => {
 			const { logger } = makeScheduler({
 				enabledForPollTriggers: true,
 				pollTimeoutSeconds: 60,
 				leaseDurationSeconds: 60,
 			});
 
+			expect(logger.warn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+				expect.stringContaining('poll timeout'),
+				expect.objectContaining({ pollTimeoutSeconds: 60, leaseDurationSeconds: 60 }),
+			);
+		});
+
+		it('does not warn when the timeout fits inside the lease', () => {
+			const { logger } = makeScheduler({
+				enabledForPollTriggers: true,
+				pollTimeoutSeconds: 45,
+				leaseDurationSeconds: 60,
+			});
+
 			expect(logger.warn).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
 				expect.stringContaining('poll timeout'),
 				expect.anything(),
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/scheduling/durable-scheduler.ts b/packages/cli/src/scheduling/durable-scheduler.ts
index 74ea5b2df98..d0bae4ae1c8 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/scheduling/durable-scheduler.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/scheduling/durable-scheduler.ts
@@ -166,13 +166,14 @@ function warnOnDrainRate(logger: Logger, config: GlobalConfig['scheduler']): voi
 /**
  * Warn when a poll may still be in flight after the lease on its occurrence has
  * expired: the reaper can then reclaim the occurrence and another instance can
- * start the same poll while the first one is still running.
+ * start the same poll while the first one is still running. Equality counts
+ * too, since the poll deadline only starts after the occurrence's setup reads.
  */
 function warnOnPollTimeout(logger: Logger, config: GlobalConfig['scheduler']): void {
 	const { enabledForPollTriggers, pollTimeoutSeconds, leaseDurationSeconds } = config;
-	if (enabledForPollTriggers && pollTimeoutSeconds > leaseDurationSeconds) {
+	if (enabledForPollTriggers && pollTimeoutSeconds >= leaseDurationSeconds) {
 		logger.warn(
-			'Scheduler poll timeout is above the lease duration; a poll can still be running when its lease expires and another instance takes the run over',
+			'Scheduler poll timeout reaches the lease duration; a poll can still be running when its lease expires and another instance takes the run over',
 			{ pollTimeoutSeconds, leaseDurationSeconds },
 		);
 	}