diff --git a/tools/run_tests/run_xds_tests.py b/tools/run_tests/run_xds_tests.py
index 6e1366c95b8..21e09e550d2 100755
--- a/tools/run_tests/run_xds_tests.py
+++ b/tools/run_tests/run_xds_tests.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ argp.add_argument('--secondary_zone',
 argp.add_argument('--qps', default=10, type=int, help='Client QPS')
 argp.add_argument(
     '--wait_for_backend_sec',
-    default=600,
+    default=1200,
     type=int,
     help='Time limit for waiting for created backend services to report '
     'healthy when launching or updated GCP resources')