diff --git a/cmd/benchpod-cli/commands_serial.go b/cmd/benchpod-cli/commands_serial.go
index b61ba74..e6851c8 100644
--- a/cmd/benchpod-cli/commands_serial.go
+++ b/cmd/benchpod-cli/commands_serial.go
@@ -196,6 +196,10 @@ func newShowNetworkCmd(g *globalFlags) *cobra.Command {
 
 // ── clear-wifi ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
+// clearWifiTimeout covers the C3 NVS erase that wifi-clear runs before it answers. 10 s was too
+// short: the CLI gave up on pods that were still erasing (2026-10-15).
+const clearWifiTimeout = 60 * time.Second
+
 func newClearWifiCmd(g *globalFlags) *cobra.Command {
 	return &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "clear-wifi",
@@ -206,7 +210,9 @@ func newClearWifiCmd(g *globalFlags) *cobra.Command {
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
-			console, _, ctx, cancel, err := g.openSerialConsole(device, g.effectiveTimeout(10*time.Second))
+			// The pod answers once it has also erased the ESP32-C3's NVS over the C3's ROM
+			// loader: about 3 s, and up to half a minute when the C3 is slow to answer.
+			console, _, ctx, cancel, err := g.openSerialConsole(device, g.effectiveTimeout(clearWifiTimeout))
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
diff --git a/internal/serialconsole/wifi.go b/internal/serialconsole/wifi.go
index e60d664..af4f131 100644
--- a/internal/serialconsole/wifi.go
+++ b/internal/serialconsole/wifi.go
@@ -167,7 +167,8 @@ func lastFieldValue(s, label string) (string, bool) {
 }
 
 // WifiClear erases the stored credentials and takes Wi-Fi down. Firmware after 3.7.0 also erases
-// the ESP32-C3's own copy, which takes a few seconds.
+// the ESP32-C3's own copy before it answers, which takes a few seconds and up to about 30 s when
+// the C3's ROM loader is slow to answer: give ctx a deadline well past that.
 func (c *Console) WifiClear(ctx context.Context) error {
 	_, err := c.sendCommand(ctx, "wifi-clear")
 	return err