diff --git a/.changeset/mysql-test-timeout.md b/.changeset/mysql-test-timeout.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f54e1b349e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/mysql-test-timeout.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/backend-test-utils': patch
+---
+
+Increased MySQL connection and pool timeouts to reduce flaky `connect ETIMEDOUT` failures in CI. The test MySQL container now also uses `mysql_native_password` for cheaper connection handshakes and disables binary logging.
diff --git a/packages/backend-test-utils/src/database/mysql.ts b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/database/mysql.ts
index b4d677bd1f..4e4396adb9 100644
--- a/packages/backend-test-utils/src/database/mysql.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/database/mysql.ts
@@ -56,6 +56,10 @@ export async function startMysqlContainer(image: string): Promise<{
     .withExposedPorts(3306)
     .withEnvironment({ MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: password })
     .withTmpFs({ '/var/lib/mysql': 'rw' })
+    .withCommand([
+      '--default-authentication-plugin=mysql_native_password',
+      '--skip-log-bin',
+    ])
     .start();
 
   const host = container.getHost();
@@ -176,6 +180,7 @@ export class MysqlEngine implements Engine {
         connection: {
           ...this.#connection,
           database: databaseName,
+          connectTimeout: 30_000,
         },
         ...LARGER_POOL_CONFIG,
       });
diff --git a/packages/backend-test-utils/src/database/types.ts b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/database/types.ts
index 30e7e2f905..4bfaadcee0 100644
--- a/packages/backend-test-utils/src/database/types.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/database/types.ts
@@ -129,5 +129,7 @@ export const LARGER_POOL_CONFIG = {
   pool: {
     min: 0,
     max: 50,
+    acquireTimeoutMillis: 30_000,
+    createTimeoutMillis: 30_000,
   },
 };