diff --git a/tests/hs-run-fast.js b/tests/hs-run-fast.js
index b18fcef0..3cabbe63 100644
--- a/tests/hs-run-fast.js
+++ b/tests/hs-run-fast.js
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ eval(fs.readFileSync(path.join(WASM_DIR, 'sx_browser.bc.js'), 'utf8'));
 const K = globalThis.SxKernel;
 
 // Step limit API — exposed from OCaml kernel
-const STEP_LIMIT = parseInt(process.env.HS_STEP_LIMIT || '500000');
+const STEP_LIMIT = parseInt(process.env.HS_STEP_LIMIT || '200000');
 
 function setStepLimit(n) { K.setStepLimit(n); }
 function resetStepCount() { K.resetStepCount(); }
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ for(let i=startTest;i<Math.min(endTest,testCount);i++){
   }catch(e){err=(e.message||'').slice(0,150);}
   setStepLimit(0); // disable step limit between tests
 
-  const elapsed = Date.now() - (_testDeadline - 3000);
+  const elapsed = Date.now() - (_testDeadline - 3000); // ms since test start
   if(ok){passed++;cats[suite].p++;}
   else{
     failed++;cats[suite].f++;cats[suite].errs.push({name,err});