diff --git a/docs/development/testing.md b/docs/development/testing.md
index 00fe51255d..9ec1f45918 100644
--- a/docs/development/testing.md
+++ b/docs/development/testing.md
@@ -324,6 +324,8 @@ Waits follow the same policy; Vitest's one-second `expect.poll` and
 test may run, less the reporting reserve: projects configure `expect.poll`
 that way, and `waitFor` from `tests/support/testWait.ts` replaces `vi.waitFor`.
 Fixture waits such as `awaitAcknowledgement` default to the same deadline.
+`expect.poll` keeps its project's budget in a `long-running` test, while
+`waitFor` follows the deadline the tag applies.
 `rea/project-wait-deadline` rejects `vi.waitFor` and explicit poll timeouts. When promptness is the behavior under test, such as
 cancellation that must preempt a slower production deadline, a wait timeout is
 not its oracle: order the condition before releasing the gate that would
diff --git a/scripts/lint/rules/project-wait-deadline.mjs b/scripts/lint/rules/project-wait-deadline.mjs
index 235d694edb..9e781f14b6 100644
--- a/scripts/lint/rules/project-wait-deadline.mjs
+++ b/scripts/lint/rules/project-wait-deadline.mjs
@@ -47,15 +47,26 @@ const isVitestMethod = (sourceCode, callee, receiver, method) => {
   );
 };
 
-/** A wait timeout written at the call: a number, or an options `timeout`. */
+const keyName = (property) => {
+  if (!property.computed) return property.key.name ?? property.key.value;
+  return property.key.type === "Literal" ? property.key.value : undefined;
+};
+
+/**
+ * A wait timeout the call may set: a number or other non-literal options, an
+ * options `timeout` (including a literal computed key), or a spread whose
+ * properties the rule cannot see.
+ */
 const explicitTimeout = (options) => {
   if (options === undefined) return undefined;
   if (options.type !== "ObjectExpression") return options;
   return options.properties.find(
     (property) =>
-      property.type === "Property" &&
-      !property.computed &&
-      (property.key.name ?? property.key.value) === "timeout",
+      property.type === "SpreadElement" ||
+      (property.type === "Property" &&
+        (property.computed && property.key.type !== "Literal"
+          ? true
+          : keyName(property) === "timeout")),
   );
 };
 
diff --git a/tests/boundary/cli/doctorCancellation.test.ts b/tests/boundary/cli/doctorCancellation.test.ts
index 9c8c9bda17..deeef4c9e3 100644
--- a/tests/boundary/cli/doctorCancellation.test.ts
+++ b/tests/boundary/cli/doctorCancellation.test.ts
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ cliTest.skipIf(!["darwin", "linux"].includes(process.platform)).for(
       executable,
       `#!${process.execPath}
 if (!process.argv.slice(2).includes(${JSON.stringify(probeArgument)})) process.exit(7);
-require("node:fs").writeFileSync(${JSON.stringify(ready)}, JSON.stringify({pid: process.pid, runId: process.env.REA_PROCESS_RUN_ID}));
+require("node:fs").writeFileSync(${JSON.stringify(ready)}, JSON.stringify({pid: process.pid, runId: process.env.REA_PROCESS_RUN_ID, at: Date.now()}));
 process.on("SIGTERM", () => {});
 setInterval(() => { if (require("node:fs").existsSync(${JSON.stringify(release)})) process.exit(0); }, 25).unref();
 setTimeout(() => process.exit(99), 20000);
@@ -104,12 +104,14 @@ setTimeout(() => process.exit(99), 20000);
               .strictObject({
                 pid: z.number().int().positive(),
                 runId: z.string().uuid(),
+                at: z.number(),
               })
               .parse(readyRecord)
           : z
               .strictObject({
                 pid: z.number().int().positive(),
                 runId: z.string().min(1),
+                at: z.number(),
               })
               .parse(readyRecord);
       if (provider === "jadx") {
@@ -119,12 +121,11 @@ setTimeout(() => process.exit(99), 20000);
           runId: observed.runId,
         };
       }
-      const signalled = performance.now();
       child.kill(signal);
       await expect.poll(() => child.exitCode).not.toBeNull();
       // Without cancellation, doctor would end when the probe's own deadline
-      // (JadxJavaProbe and KunaInstallation: 10 s) stopped the probe.
-      expect(performance.now() - signalled).toBeLessThan(PROBE_DEADLINE_MS);
+      // (JadxJavaProbe and KunaInstallation: 10 s from its start) stopped it.
+      expect(Date.now() - observed.at).toBeLessThan(PROBE_DEADLINE_MS);
       const result = await closed;
       expect(JSON.parse(stdout)).toMatchObject({ code: "cancelled" });
       if (ownership !== undefined) {
diff --git a/tests/evaluation/projectWaitDeadlineRule.test.ts b/tests/evaluation/projectWaitDeadlineRule.test.ts
index fb8f85bd06..dd849ef266 100644
--- a/tests/evaluation/projectWaitDeadlineRule.test.ts
+++ b/tests/evaluation/projectWaitDeadlineRule.test.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ tester.run("project-wait-deadline", rule, {
     `${vitest} await expect.poll(() => ready).toBe(true);`,
     `${vitest} await expect.poll(() => ready, { interval: 10 }).toBe(true);`,
     `${vitest} await expect.poll(() => ready, { message: "ready" }).toBe(true);`,
+    `${vitest} await expect.poll(() => ready, { ["interval"]: 10 }).toBe(true);`,
     `import { waitFor } from "../support/testWait.js"; await waitFor(() => ready, { interval: 10 });`,
     // Same names that are not Vitest's: a fixture method, or a shadowed local.
     `${vitest} await fixture.vi.waitFor(() => ready, { timeout: 5_000 });`,
@@ -40,6 +41,9 @@ tester.run("project-wait-deadline", rule, {
       `${vitest} await expect.poll(() => ready, options).toBe(true);`,
       `import { expect as assert } from "vitest"; await assert.poll(() => ready, { timeout: 5 }).toBe(true);`,
       `import * as vitest from "vitest"; await vitest.expect.poll(() => ready, { "timeout": 5 }).toBe(true);`,
+      `${vitest} await expect.poll(() => ready, { ["timeout"]: 5 }).toBe(true);`,
+      `${vitest} await expect.poll(() => ready, { ...{ timeout: 5 } }).toBe(true);`,
+      `${vitest} await expect.poll(() => ready, { [key]: 5 }).toBe(true);`,
     ].map((code) => ({
       code,
       filename,