diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/cicd-start.yaml b/.gitea/workflows/cicd-start.yaml
index 0daa7d9..b10610b 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/cicd-start.yaml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/cicd-start.yaml
@@ -132,17 +132,20 @@ jobs:
             echo "Base availability check ${i}/3 for ${BASE_REF_HASH}"
 
             # Manifest inspect is unreliable on some runners; use pull as truth.
-            if timeout 60 docker pull "${BASE_REF_HASH}" >/tmp/start-base-pull.log 2>&1; then
+            if timeout 900 docker pull "${BASE_REF_HASH}" >/tmp/start-base-pull.log 2>&1; then
               echo "pull_check=ok"
               echo "Base rebuild needed: false"
               echo "base_needed=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
               exit 0
-            fi
-
-            pull_exit=$?
-            echo "pull_check=failed exit_code=${pull_exit}"
-            if [ -s /tmp/start-base-pull.log ]; then
-              tail -n 20 /tmp/start-base-pull.log || true
+            else
+              pull_exit=$?
+              echo "pull_check=failed exit_code=${pull_exit}"
+              if [ "${pull_exit}" -eq 124 ]; then
+                echo "Base pull timed out after 900s"
+              fi
+              if [ -s /tmp/start-base-pull.log ]; then
+                tail -n 20 /tmp/start-base-pull.log || true
+              fi
             fi
             if [ "${i}" -lt 3 ]; then
               sleep 10
diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/docker-build-base.yaml b/.gitea/workflows/docker-build-base.yaml
index 48e0967..bc08f92 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/docker-build-base.yaml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/docker-build-base.yaml
@@ -259,16 +259,19 @@ jobs:
           for i in 1 2 3; do
             echo "Existing base check ${i}/3 for ${BASE_REF_HASH}..."
             # Manifest inspect is unreliable on some runners; use pull as truth.
-            if timeout 60 docker pull "${BASE_REF_HASH}" >/tmp/base-state-pull.log 2>&1; then
+            if timeout 900 docker pull "${BASE_REF_HASH}" >/tmp/base-state-pull.log 2>&1; then
               echo "✓ Immutable base image already exists and is pullable: ${BASE_REF_HASH}"
               echo "needs_build=false" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
               exit 0
-            fi
-
-            pull_exit=$?
-            echo "Existing base pull check failed with exit code ${pull_exit}"
-            if [ -s /tmp/base-state-pull.log ]; then
-              tail -n 20 /tmp/base-state-pull.log || true
+            else
+              pull_exit=$?
+              echo "Existing base pull check failed with exit code ${pull_exit}"
+              if [ "${pull_exit}" -eq 124 ]; then
+                echo "Existing base pull timed out after 900s"
+              fi
+              if [ -s /tmp/base-state-pull.log ]; then
+                tail -n 20 /tmp/base-state-pull.log || true
+              fi
             fi
 
             if [ "${i}" -lt 3 ]; then
diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/docker-build-main.yaml b/.gitea/workflows/docker-build-main.yaml
index 53366b7..288aff7 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/docker-build-main.yaml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/docker-build-main.yaml
@@ -120,30 +120,38 @@ jobs:
           BASE_IMAGE="${GITEA_REGISTRY}/darkhelm.org/plex-playlist-cicd-base:${BASE_HASH}"
 
           verify_base_image() {
+            # Fast path: base image already present locally.
+            if docker image inspect "${BASE_IMAGE}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+              return 0
+            fi
+
             # Manifest inspect unreliable on these runners; use pull as truth.
-            timeout 60 docker pull "${BASE_IMAGE}" >/tmp/base-image-pull.log 2>&1
+            timeout 1800 docker pull "${BASE_IMAGE}" >/tmp/base-image-pull.log 2>&1
           }
 
-          max_attempts=12
-          sleep_seconds=10
+          max_attempts=2
+          sleep_seconds=15
           for i in $(seq 1 "${max_attempts}"); do
             echo "Base availability check ${i}/${max_attempts}..."
             if verify_base_image; then
               echo "✓ Base image available and hash matched: ${BASE_IMAGE}"
               break
-            fi
+            else
+              pull_exit=$?
+              echo "Base pull attempt ${i} failed with exit code ${pull_exit}"
+              if [ "${pull_exit}" -eq 124 ]; then
+                echo "Pull timed out after 1800s while downloading base image"
+              fi
+              if [ -s /tmp/base-image-pull.log ]; then
+                tail -n 40 /tmp/base-image-pull.log || true
+              fi
 
-            pull_exit=$?
-            echo "Base pull attempt ${i} failed with exit code ${pull_exit}"
-            if [ -s /tmp/base-image-pull.log ]; then
-              tail -n 20 /tmp/base-image-pull.log || true
+              if [ "${i}" -eq "${max_attempts}" ]; then
+                echo "❌ Required immutable base image is not available or mismatched: ${BASE_IMAGE}"
+                exit 1
+              fi
+              sleep "${sleep_seconds}"
             fi
-
-            if [ "${i}" -eq "${max_attempts}" ]; then
-              echo "❌ Required immutable base image is not available or mismatched: ${BASE_IMAGE}"
-              exit 1
-            fi
-            sleep "${sleep_seconds}"
           done
 
           echo "✓ Base image ready: ${BASE_IMAGE}"