diff --git a/.changeset/protect-token-timeout-10s.md b/.changeset/protect-token-timeout-10s.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6d514b66cc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/protect-token-timeout-10s.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+---
+'@clerk/clerk-js': patch
+'@clerk/shared': patch
+---
+
+Wait up to 10 seconds, instead of 5, for the Device Intelligence check to finish before sending a sign-in or sign-up without its result. This applies when an instance hasn't configured its own limit. Users on slow connections are less likely to have sign-ups blocked by protections that require a Device Intelligence result.
+
+Keep the wait bounded when the device clock changes so later attempts can recover after another tab's lock is released.
+
+The shared loader type reference now documents the same 10-second default.
diff --git a/packages/clerk-js/src/core/__tests__/protectSession.test.ts b/packages/clerk-js/src/core/__tests__/protectSession.test.ts
index bb8056d59e9..0ae8ee6dfeb 100644
--- a/packages/clerk-js/src/core/__tests__/protectSession.test.ts
+++ b/packages/clerk-js/src/core/__tests__/protectSession.test.ts
@@ -686,7 +686,7 @@ describe('ProtectSession deadlines', () => {
 
     const startedAt = Date.now();
     await expect(created?.getRequestParams()).resolves.toMatchObject({ __clerk_protect_status: 'timeout' });
-    // Misread, this would fall back to the 5s default and be two orders of magnitude out.
+    // Misread, this would fall back to the 10s default and be two orders of magnitude out.
     expect(Date.now() - startedAt).toBeLessThan(1_000);
   });
 
@@ -733,11 +733,204 @@ describe('ProtectSession deadlines', () => {
     // `tokenTimeoutMs` is server config with no upper bound of its own, so the ceiling is ours.
     expect(clampTimeout(120_000)).toBe(10_000);
     expect(clampTimeout(1_500)).toBe(1_500);
-    expect(clampTimeout(undefined)).toBe(5_000);
-    expect(clampTimeout(0)).toBe(5_000);
-    expect(clampTimeout(-1)).toBe(5_000);
-    expect(clampTimeout('soon')).toBe(5_000);
-    expect(clampTimeout(Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY)).toBe(5_000);
+    expect(clampTimeout(undefined)).toBe(10_000);
+    expect(clampTimeout(0)).toBe(10_000);
+    expect(clampTimeout(-1)).toBe(10_000);
+    expect(clampTimeout('soon')).toBe(10_000);
+    expect(clampTimeout(Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY)).toBe(10_000);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('ProtectSession default deadline', () => {
+  const defaultLoader = () => loader({ token_timeout_ms: undefined });
+
+  const track = (params: Promise<unknown> | undefined) => {
+    const state = { settled: false };
+    void params?.then(() => {
+      state.settled = true;
+    });
+    return state;
+  };
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+    delete (navigator as unknown as Record<string, unknown>).locks;
+  });
+
+  it('accepts a token that arrives after 7s', async () => {
+    const { session: created, elements } = session([defaultLoader()]);
+    created?.start();
+    const params = created?.getRequestParams();
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(7_000);
+    serveInline(elements[0], { cid: created?.placeholders().cid });
+
+    await expect(params).resolves.toMatchObject({ __clerk_protect_status: 'ok' });
+  });
+
+  it('gives up at 10s when the loader never loads', async () => {
+    const { session: created } = session([defaultLoader()]);
+    created?.start();
+    const params = created?.getRequestParams();
+    const state = track(params);
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(9_999);
+    expect(state.settled).toBe(false);
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1);
+    await expect(params).resolves.toMatchObject({ __clerk_protect_status: 'timeout' });
+  });
+
+  it('holds a sign-in made mid-acquisition only for what is left of it', async () => {
+    const { session: created } = session([defaultLoader()]);
+    created?.start();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(6_000);
+
+    const params = created?.getRequestParams();
+    const state = track(params);
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(3_999);
+    expect(state.settled).toBe(false);
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1);
+    await expect(params).resolves.toMatchObject({ __clerk_protect_status: 'timeout' });
+  });
+
+  it('never holds one sign-in past the deadline when the lock is granted late', async () => {
+    Object.defineProperty(navigator, 'locks', {
+      value: {
+        request: vi.fn((_key: string, _options: unknown, callback: () => Promise<unknown>) =>
+          new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 4_900)).then(() => callback()),
+        ),
+      },
+      configurable: true,
+    });
+
+    const { session: created } = session([defaultLoader()]);
+    created?.start();
+    const params = created?.getRequestParams();
+    const state = track(params);
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(9_999);
+    expect(state.settled).toBe(false);
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1);
+    await expect(params).resolves.toMatchObject({ __clerk_protect_status: 'timeout' });
+  });
+
+  it('keeps waiting for a leader tab after SafeLock gives up, until its own deadline', async () => {
+    Object.defineProperty(navigator, 'locks', {
+      value: {
+        request: vi.fn(
+          (_key: string, options: { signal: AbortSignal }) =>
+            new Promise((_resolve, reject) => {
+              options.signal.addEventListener('abort', () => reject(new DOMException('aborted', 'AbortError')));
+            }),
+        ),
+      },
+      configurable: true,
+    });
+
+    const { session: created, elements } = session([defaultLoader()]);
+    created?.start();
+    const params = created?.getRequestParams();
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(7_000);
+    localStorage.setItem('__clerk_protect_st', storedEntry({ token: 'v1.leader.mac', rid: 'c'.repeat(26) }));
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(100);
+
+    await expect(params).resolves.toMatchObject({
+      __clerk_protect_token: 'v1.leader.mac',
+      __clerk_protect_status: 'ok',
+    });
+    expect(elements).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
+  it('answers at once when the browser refuses the cross-tab lock', async () => {
+    Object.defineProperty(navigator, 'locks', {
+      value: { request: vi.fn(() => Promise.reject(new DOMException('denied', 'SecurityError'))) },
+      configurable: true,
+    });
+
+    const { session: created, elements } = session([defaultLoader()]);
+    created?.start();
+    const params = created?.getRequestParams();
+    const state = track(params);
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(50);
+    expect(state.settled).toBe(true);
+    await expect(params).resolves.toMatchObject({ __clerk_protect_status: 'timeout' });
+    expect(elements).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
+  it('stops at its own deadline when that comes before SafeLock gives up', async () => {
+    Object.defineProperty(navigator, 'locks', {
+      value: {
+        request: vi.fn(
+          (_key: string, options: { signal: AbortSignal }) =>
+            new Promise((_resolve, reject) => {
+              options.signal.addEventListener('abort', () => reject(new DOMException('aborted', 'AbortError')));
+            }),
+        ),
+      },
+      configurable: true,
+    });
+
+    const { session: created, elements } = session([loader({ token_timeout_ms: 3_000 })]);
+    created?.start();
+    const params = created?.getRequestParams();
+    const state = track(params);
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(2_999);
+    expect(state.settled).toBe(false);
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1);
+    await expect(params).resolves.toMatchObject({ __clerk_protect_status: 'timeout' });
+
+    localStorage.setItem('__clerk_protect_st', storedEntry({ token: 'v1.leader.mac', rid: 'c'.repeat(26) }));
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(2_000);
+    expect(vi.getTimerCount()).toBe(0);
+    await expect(created?.getRequestParams()).resolves.toMatchObject({ __clerk_protect_token: 'v1.leader.mac' });
+    expect(elements).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    [2_000, -3_600_000],
+    [6_000, -3_600_000],
+    [2_000, 3_600_000],
+    [6_000, 3_600_000],
+  ])('settles follower polling after a clock change at %s ms by %s ms', async (changeAt, correction) => {
+    let available = false;
+    const request = vi.fn((_key: string, options: { signal: AbortSignal }, callback: () => Promise<unknown>) => {
+      if (available) {
+        return callback();
+      }
+      return new Promise((_resolve, reject) => {
+        options.signal.addEventListener('abort', () => reject(new DOMException('aborted', 'AbortError')));
+      });
+    });
+    Object.defineProperty(navigator, 'locks', { configurable: true, value: { request } });
+    const { session: created, elements } = session([defaultLoader()]);
+    created?.start();
+    const params = created?.getRequestParams();
+    const state = track(params);
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(changeAt);
+    vi.setSystemTime(Date.now() + correction);
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(9_999 - changeAt);
+    expect(state.settled).toBe(false);
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1);
+    await expect(params).resolves.toMatchObject({ __clerk_protect_status: 'timeout' });
+    expect(vi.getTimerCount()).toBe(0);
+
+    available = true;
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(30_000);
+    const retry = created?.getRequestParams();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
+    expect(request).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    expect(elements).toHaveLength(1);
+    serveInline(elements[0], { cid: created?.placeholders().cid });
+    await expect(retry).resolves.toMatchObject({ __clerk_protect_status: 'ok' });
   });
 });
 
diff --git a/packages/clerk-js/src/core/protectSession.ts b/packages/clerk-js/src/core/protectSession.ts
index ee36a82b0e9..2be0731c856 100644
--- a/packages/clerk-js/src/core/protectSession.ts
+++ b/packages/clerk-js/src/core/protectSession.ts
@@ -31,9 +31,11 @@ const INLINE_TOKEN_GLOBAL = '__clerk_specter';
 /** A token this close to expiry is treated as absent, so a fresh run starts before it lapses. */
 const TOKEN_REFRESH_MARGIN_MS = 60 * 1_000;
 /** Acquisition deadline when the instance does not configure one. */
-const DEFAULT_TOKEN_TIMEOUT_MS = 5 * 1_000;
+const DEFAULT_TOKEN_TIMEOUT_MS = 10 * 1_000;
 /** Ceiling on the instance-configured deadline, so no server value can stall a sign-in. */
 const MAX_TOKEN_TIMEOUT_MS = 10 * 1_000;
+const STORE_POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 100;
+const LOCK_REFUSAL_WINDOW_MS = 4_000;
 /** A stored token claiming more remaining life than this was not minted by us. */
 const MAX_TOKEN_LIFETIME_MS = 24 * 60 * 60 * 1_000;
 /** Longest token we will hand back, so a planted store entry cannot bloat a sign-in body. */
@@ -404,16 +406,17 @@ function isRetryableStatus(status: number): boolean {
 }
 
 function sleep(ms: number, signal: AbortSignal): Promise<void> {
+  if (signal.aborted) {
+    return Promise.resolve();
+  }
   return new Promise(resolve => {
-    const timer = setTimeout(resolve, ms);
-    signal.addEventListener(
-      'abort',
-      () => {
-        clearTimeout(timer);
-        resolve();
-      },
-      { once: true },
-    );
+    const settle = () => {
+      clearTimeout(timer);
+      signal.removeEventListener('abort', settle);
+      resolve();
+    };
+    const timer = setTimeout(settle, ms);
+    signal.addEventListener('abort', settle, { once: true });
   });
 }
 
@@ -622,7 +625,8 @@ export class ProtectSession {
     if (readStoredToken(this.#tokenStorageKey, TOKEN_SEND_MARGIN_MS, this.#floor)) {
       return;
     }
-    if (Date.now() - this.#lastAttemptAt < this.#backoffMs()) {
+    const elapsed = Date.now() - this.#lastAttemptAt;
+    if (elapsed >= 0 && elapsed < this.#backoffMs()) {
       return;
     }
     this.#startAcquisition();
@@ -666,22 +670,47 @@ export class ProtectSession {
       return 'ok';
     }
 
-    const result = await this.#lock.acquireLockAndRun(async () => {
-      // Double-checked inside the lock. Without this re-read every tab runs the loader in turn,
-      // which is the exact failure this design exists to prevent.
-      if (this.#freshStoredToken()) {
-        return 'ok' satisfies ProtectStatus;
+    const controller = new AbortController();
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), this.#timeoutMs);
+    let lockWaitedOut = false;
+    const lockTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+      lockWaitedOut = true;
+    }, LOCK_REFUSAL_WINDOW_MS);
+    try {
+      const result = await this.#lock.acquireLockAndRun(async () => {
+        // Double-checked inside the lock. Without this re-read every tab runs the loader in turn,
+        // which is the exact failure this design exists to prevent.
+        if (this.#freshStoredToken()) {
+          return 'ok' satisfies ProtectStatus;
+        }
+        return await this.#mint();
+      });
+
+      if (typeof result === 'string') {
+        return result as ProtectStatus;
       }
-      return await this.#mint();
-    });
 
-    if (typeof result === 'string') {
-      return result as ProtectStatus;
+      // Refused: nobody is minting for us. Waited out: a leader may still be, so poll the store until our deadline.
+      if (!lockWaitedOut) {
+        return this.#freshStoredToken() ? 'ok' : 'timeout';
+      }
+      return (await this.#awaitStoredToken(controller.signal)) ? 'ok' : 'timeout';
+    } finally {
+      clearTimeout(timer);
+      clearTimeout(lockTimer);
     }
+  }
 
-    // The lock was never held — `SafeLock` gives up waiting after ~5s so a wedged leader delays
-    // nobody. Whatever a leader did manage to write is still ours to use.
-    return this.#freshStoredToken() ? 'ok' : 'timeout';
+  async #awaitStoredToken(signal: AbortSignal): Promise<boolean> {
+    for (;;) {
+      if (this.#freshStoredToken()) {
+        return true;
+      }
+      if (signal.aborted) {
+        return false;
+      }
+      await sleep(STORE_POLL_INTERVAL_MS, signal);
+    }
   }
 
   /** Runs the loader and takes the token it was served with. Never rejects. */
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/types/protectConfig.ts b/packages/shared/src/types/protectConfig.ts
index 45ea9c20f01..c6b1b637656 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/types/protectConfig.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/src/types/protectConfig.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ export interface ProtectLoader {
   token_url?: string;
   /**
    * How long to wait for the token before giving up and reporting a status instead. Defaults to
-   * 5000 and is capped at 10000 by the SDK, so this cannot stall a sign-in.
+   * 10000 and is capped at 10000 by the SDK, so this cannot stall a sign-in.
    */
   token_timeout_ms?: number;
   /**