diff --git a/jjb/global/jjb-macros.yaml b/jjb/global/jjb-macros.yaml
index 3de22ee..cedcea1 100644
--- a/jjb/global/jjb-macros.yaml
+++ b/jjb/global/jjb-macros.yaml
@@ -206,3 +206,12 @@
               credential-id: nordixinfra-jjb-creds
               username: JJB_USERNAME
               password: JJB_USERTOKEN
+
+# timeout wrapper to use for jobs
+- wrapper:
+    name: build-timeout
+    wrappers:
+      - timeout:
+          timeout: '{timeout}'
+          timeout-var: 'BUILD_TIMEOUT'
+          fail: true