diff --git a/tests/test_cancel.py b/tests/test_cancel.py
index 3a94e5f3..f267d995 100755
--- a/tests/test_cancel.py
+++ b/tests/test_cancel.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ class CancelTests(ConnectingTestCase):
         self.assertRaises(psycopg2.OperationalError, async_conn.cancel)
         extras.wait_select(async_conn)
         cur = async_conn.cursor()
-        cur.execute("select pg_sleep(10000)")
+        cur.execute("select pg_sleep(2)")
         self.assertTrue(async_conn.isexecuting())
         async_conn.cancel()
         self.assertRaises(psycopg2.extensions.QueryCanceledError,