diff --git a/pilot/util/monitoring.py b/pilot/util/monitoring.py
index 5adced08..03b39ce4 100644
--- a/pilot/util/monitoring.py
+++ b/pilot/util/monitoring.py
@@ -118,6 +118,8 @@ def job_monitor_tasks(job, mt, args):  # noqa: C901
                 job.cpuconsumptiontime = int(round(cpuconsumptiontime))
                 job.cpuconversionfactor = 1.0
                 logger.info(f'(instant) CPU consumption time for pid={job.pid}: {cpuconsumptiontime} (rounded to {job.cpuconsumptiontime})')
+            elif _cpuconsumptiontime == -1:
+                logger.warning('could not get CPU consumption time')
             else:
                 logger.warning(f'process {job.pid} is no longer using CPU - aborting')
                 return 0, ""
diff --git a/pilot/util/processes.py b/pilot/util/processes.py
index fc3c3ced..7c382392 100644
--- a/pilot/util/processes.py
+++ b/pilot/util/processes.py
@@ -568,8 +568,12 @@ def get_current_cpu_consumption_time(pid):
 
     # get all the child processes
     children = []
-    _, ps_cache, _ = execute("ps -eo pid,ppid -m", mute=True)
-    find_processes_in_group(children, pid, ps_cache)
+    _, ps_cache, _ = execute("ps -eo pid,ppid -m", mute=True, timeout=60)
+    if ps_cache:
+        find_processes_in_group(children, pid, ps_cache)
+    else:
+        logger.warning('failed to get ps_cache')
+        return -1
 
     cpuconsumptiontime = 0
     for _pid in children: