diff --git a/tests/wamr-test-suites/spec-test-script/runtest.py b/tests/wamr-test-suites/spec-test-script/runtest.py
index 2713c494..8e53ddbc 100755
--- a/tests/wamr-test-suites/spec-test-script/runtest.py
+++ b/tests/wamr-test-suites/spec-test-script/runtest.py
@@ -273,6 +273,8 @@ parser.add_argument('--rundir',
         help="change to the directory before running tests")
 parser.add_argument('--start-timeout', default=30, type=int,
         help="default timeout for initial prompt")
+parser.add_argument('--start-fail-timeout', default=2, type=int,
+        help="default timeout for initial prompt (when expected to fail)")
 parser.add_argument('--test-timeout', default=20, type=int,
         help="default timeout for each individual test action")
 parser.add_argument('--no-pty', action='store_true',
@@ -1230,7 +1232,7 @@ def test_assert_with_exception(form, wast_tempfile, wasm_tempfile, aot_tempfile,
     if test_aot:
         r = compile_wasm_to_aot(wasm_tempfile, aot_tempfile, True, opts, r)
         try:
-            assert_prompt(r, ['Compile success'], opts.start_timeout, True)
+            assert_prompt(r, ['Compile success'], opts.start_fail_timeout, True)
         except:
             _, exc, _ = sys.exc_info()
             if (r.buf.find(expected) >= 0):
@@ -1251,7 +1253,7 @@ def test_assert_with_exception(form, wast_tempfile, wasm_tempfile, aot_tempfile,
     if loadable:
         # Wait for the initial prompt
         try:
-            assert_prompt(r, ['webassembly> '], opts.start_timeout, True)
+            assert_prompt(r, ['webassembly> '], opts.start_fail_timeout, True)
         except:
             _, exc, _ = sys.exc_info()
             if (r.buf.find(expected) >= 0):
@@ -1331,7 +1333,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
                     if test_aot:
                         r = compile_wasm_to_aot(wasm_tempfile, aot_tempfile, True, opts, r)
                         try:
-                            assert_prompt(r, ['Compile success'], opts.start_timeout, True)
+                            assert_prompt(r, ['Compile success'], opts.start_fail_timeout, True)
                         except:
                             _, exc, _ = sys.exc_info()
                             if (r.buf.find(error_msg) >= 0):