diff --git a/src/lib/db/client.ts b/src/lib/db/client.ts
index 993a134..832c34a 100644
--- a/src/lib/db/client.ts
+++ b/src/lib/db/client.ts
@@ -13,8 +13,9 @@ sqlite.pragma("foreign_keys = ON");
 // Next's build-time page-data collection evaluates route modules across
 // several worker processes concurrently — without this, two workers
 // racing to open/initialize a fresh db.sqlite can throw SQLITE_BUSY
-// instead of just waiting the few ms for the other's lock to clear.
-sqlite.pragma("busy_timeout = 5000");
+// instead of just waiting for the other's lock to clear. 5s wasn't enough
+// once the route count grew — bumped to 30s (build-time only cost).
+sqlite.pragma("busy_timeout = 30000");
 
 export const db = drizzle(sqlite, { schema });
 export type DB = typeof db;