diff --git a/skills/openai-image-gen/SKILL.md b/skills/openai-image-gen/SKILL.md
index 215b45ac4..5db45c2c0 100644
--- a/skills/openai-image-gen/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/openai-image-gen/SKILL.md
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ Generate a handful of “random but structured” prompts and render them via th
 
 ## Run
 
+Note: Image generation can take longer than common exec timeouts (for example 30 seconds).
+When invoking this skill via OpenClaw’s exec tool, set a higher timeout to avoid premature termination/retries (e.g., exec timeout=300).
+
 ```bash
 python3 {baseDir}/scripts/gen.py
 open ~/Projects/tmp/openai-image-gen-*/index.html  # if ~/Projects/tmp exists; else ./tmp/...
diff --git a/src/agents/bash-tools.exec-runtime.ts b/src/agents/bash-tools.exec-runtime.ts
index 360912643..22d2f14aa 100644
--- a/src/agents/bash-tools.exec-runtime.ts
+++ b/src/agents/bash-tools.exec-runtime.ts
@@ -535,8 +535,8 @@ export async function runExecProcess(opts: {
           : "Command not executable (permission denied)"
         : exit.reason === "overall-timeout"
           ? typeof opts.timeoutSec === "number" && opts.timeoutSec > 0
-            ? `Command timed out after ${opts.timeoutSec} seconds`
-            : "Command timed out"
+            ? `Command timed out after ${opts.timeoutSec} seconds. If this command is expected to take longer, re-run with a higher timeout (e.g., exec timeout=300).`
+            : "Command timed out. If this command is expected to take longer, re-run with a higher timeout (e.g., exec timeout=300)."
           : exit.reason === "no-output-timeout"
             ? "Command timed out waiting for output"
             : exit.exitSignal != null
diff --git a/src/agents/bash-tools.test.ts b/src/agents/bash-tools.test.ts
index d69fdadbe..151d705f7 100644
--- a/src/agents/bash-tools.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/bash-tools.test.ts
@@ -458,6 +458,9 @@ describe("exec tool backgrounding", () => {
       allowBackground: false,
     });
     await expect(executeExecCommand(customBash, longDelayCmd)).rejects.toThrow(/timed out/i);
+    await expect(executeExecCommand(customBash, longDelayCmd)).rejects.toThrow(
+      /re-run with a higher timeout/i,
+    );
   });
 
   it.each<DisallowedElevationCase>(DISALLOWED_ELEVATION_CASES)(