diff --git a/src/polling/poll.ts b/src/polling/poll.ts
index 06ca59fc..7619ea48 100644
--- a/src/polling/poll.ts
+++ b/src/polling/poll.ts
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ export async function poll<T>(config: Config, opts: PollOptions): Promise<T> {
         );
       }
 
-      await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, opts.intervalSec * 1000));
+      await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, Math.min(opts.intervalSec * 1000, Math.max(0, deadline - Date.now()))));
     }
   } finally {
     spinner.stop();
diff --git a/test/polling/poll.test.ts b/test/polling/poll.test.ts
index 27f25540..efb5db6d 100644
--- a/test/polling/poll.test.ts
+++ b/test/polling/poll.test.ts
@@ -147,4 +147,20 @@ describe('poll', () => {
     expect(callCount).toBe(1);
     expect(result).toBeDefined();
   });
+
+  it('does not sleep for the full polling interval when the timeout is shorter', async () => {
+    setFetch(mock(() => Promise.resolve(jsonRes({ status: 'Processing' }))));
+    const { poll } = await import('../../src/polling/poll');
+    const started = performance.now();
+
+    await expect(poll(baseConfig, {
+      url: 'https://api.mmx.io/poll',
+      intervalSec: 1.5,
+      timeoutSec: 0.05,
+      isComplete: () => false,
+      isFailed: () => false,
+    })).rejects.toThrow('Polling timed out');
+
+    expect(performance.now() - started).toBeLessThan(1000);
+  });
 });