diff --git a/Jenkinsfile b/Jenkinsfile
index 9d6828000b..07c6b4f4f5 100644
--- a/Jenkinsfile
+++ b/Jenkinsfile
@@ -92,11 +92,20 @@ def deviceStage(String stageName, String deviceType, List extra_env, def steps)
             device(device_ip, "git checkout", extra + "\n" + readFile("selfdrive/test/setup_device_ci.sh"))
           }
           steps.each { item ->
-            if (branch != "master" && item.size() == 3 && !hasPathChanged(gitDiff, item[2])) {
-              println "Skipping ${item[0]}: no changes in ${item[2]}."
+            def name = item[0]
+            def cmd = item[1]
+
+            def args = item[2]
+            def diffPaths = args.diffPaths ?: []
+            def cmdTimeout = args.timeout ?: 9999
+
+            if (branch != "master" && diffPaths && !hasPathChanged(gitDiff, diffPaths)) {
+              println "Skipping ${name}: no changes in ${diffPaths}."
               return
             } else {
-              device(device_ip, item[0], item[1])
+              timeout(time: cmdTimeout, unit: 'SECONDS') {
+                device(device_ip, name, cmd)
+              }
             }
           }
         }
@@ -134,6 +143,9 @@ def setupCredentials() {
   }
 }
 
+def step(String name, String cmd, Map args = [:]) {
+  return [name, cmd, args]
+}
 
 node {
   env.CI = "1"
@@ -158,14 +170,14 @@ node {
   try {
     if (env.BRANCH_NAME == 'devel-staging') {
       deviceStage("build release3-staging", "tici-needs-can", [], [
-        ["build release3-staging", "RELEASE_BRANCH=release3-staging $SOURCE_DIR/release/build_release.sh"],
+        step("build release3-staging", "RELEASE_BRANCH=release3-staging $SOURCE_DIR/release/build_release.sh"),
       ])
     }
 
     if (env.BRANCH_NAME == 'master-ci') {
       deviceStage("build nightly", "tici-needs-can", [], [
-        ["build nightly", "RELEASE_BRANCH=nightly $SOURCE_DIR/release/build_release.sh"],
-        ["build nightly-dev", "PANDA_DEBUG_BUILD=1 RELEASE_BRANCH=nightly-dev $SOURCE_DIR/release/build_release.sh"],
+        step("build nightly", "RELEASE_BRANCH=nightly $SOURCE_DIR/release/build_release.sh"),
+        step("build nightly-dev", "PANDA_DEBUG_BUILD=1 RELEASE_BRANCH=nightly-dev $SOURCE_DIR/release/build_release.sh"),
       ])
     }
 
@@ -176,64 +188,64 @@ node {
         deviceStage("onroad", "tici-needs-can", [], [
           // TODO: ideally, this test runs in master-ci, but it takes 5+m to build it
           //["build master-ci", "cd $SOURCE_DIR/release && TARGET_DIR=$TEST_DIR $SOURCE_DIR/scripts/retry.sh ./build_devel.sh"],
-          ["build openpilot", "cd system/manager && ./build.py"],
-          ["check dirty", "release/check-dirty.sh"],
-          ["onroad tests", "pytest selfdrive/test/test_onroad.py -s"],
+          step("build openpilot", "cd system/manager && ./build.py"),
+          step("check dirty", "release/check-dirty.sh"),
+          step("onroad tests", "pytest selfdrive/test/test_onroad.py -s"),
           //["time to onroad", "pytest selfdrive/test/test_time_to_onroad.py"],
         ])
       },
       'HW + Unit Tests': {
         deviceStage("tici-hardware", "tici-common", ["UNSAFE=1"], [
-          ["build", "cd system/manager && ./build.py"],
-          ["test pandad", "pytest selfdrive/pandad/tests/test_pandad.py", ["panda/", "selfdrive/pandad/"]],
-          ["test power draw", "pytest -s system/hardware/tici/tests/test_power_draw.py"],
-          ["test encoder", "LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/local/lib pytest system/loggerd/tests/test_encoder.py"],
-          ["test pigeond", "pytest system/ubloxd/tests/test_pigeond.py"],
-          ["test manager", "pytest system/manager/test/test_manager.py"],
+          step("build", "cd system/manager && ./build.py"),
+          step("test pandad", "pytest selfdrive/pandad/tests/test_pandad.py", [diffPaths: ["panda/", "selfdrive/pandad/"]]),
+          step("test power draw", "pytest -s system/hardware/tici/tests/test_power_draw.py"),
+          step("test encoder", "LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/local/lib pytest system/loggerd/tests/test_encoder.py"),
+          step("test pigeond", "pytest system/ubloxd/tests/test_pigeond.py"),
+          step("test manager", "pytest system/manager/test/test_manager.py"),
         ])
       },
       'loopback': {
         deviceStage("loopback", "tici-loopback", ["UNSAFE=1"], [
-          ["build openpilot", "cd system/manager && ./build.py"],
-          ["test pandad loopback", "pytest selfdrive/pandad/tests/test_pandad_loopback.py"],
+          step("build openpilot", "cd system/manager && ./build.py"),
+          step("test pandad loopback", "pytest selfdrive/pandad/tests/test_pandad_loopback.py"),
         ])
       },
       'camerad': {
         deviceStage("AR0231", "tici-ar0231", ["UNSAFE=1"], [
-          ["build", "cd system/manager && ./build.py"],
-          ["test camerad", "pytest system/camerad/test/test_camerad.py"],
-          ["test exposure", "pytest system/camerad/test/test_exposure.py"],
+          step("build", "cd system/manager && ./build.py"),
+          step("test camerad", "pytest system/camerad/test/test_camerad.py"),
+          step("test exposure", "pytest system/camerad/test/test_exposure.py"),
         ])
         deviceStage("OX03C10", "tici-ox03c10", ["UNSAFE=1"], [
-          ["build", "cd system/manager && ./build.py"],
-          ["test camerad", "pytest system/camerad/test/test_camerad.py"],
-          ["test exposure", "pytest system/camerad/test/test_exposure.py"],
+          step("build", "cd system/manager && ./build.py"),
+          step("test camerad", "pytest system/camerad/test/test_camerad.py"),
+          step("test exposure", "pytest system/camerad/test/test_exposure.py"),
         ])
       },
       'sensord': {
         deviceStage("LSM + MMC", "tici-lsmc", ["UNSAFE=1"], [
-          ["build", "cd system/manager && ./build.py"],
-          ["test sensord", "pytest system/sensord/tests/test_sensord.py"],
+          step("build", "cd system/manager && ./build.py"),
+          step("test sensord", "pytest system/sensord/tests/test_sensord.py"),
         ])
         deviceStage("BMX + LSM", "tici-bmx-lsm", ["UNSAFE=1"], [
-          ["build", "cd system/manager && ./build.py"],
-          ["test sensord", "pytest system/sensord/tests/test_sensord.py"],
+          step("build", "cd system/manager && ./build.py"),
+          step("test sensord", "pytest system/sensord/tests/test_sensord.py"),
         ])
       },
       'replay': {
         deviceStage("model-replay", "tici-replay", ["UNSAFE=1"], [
-          ["build", "cd system/manager && ./build.py", ["selfdrive/modeld/"]],
-          ["model replay", "selfdrive/test/process_replay/model_replay.py", ["selfdrive/modeld/"]],
+          step("build", "cd system/manager && ./build.py", [diffPaths: ["selfdrive/modeld/"]]),
+          step("model replay", "selfdrive/test/process_replay/model_replay.py", [diffPaths: ["selfdrive/modeld/"]]),
         ])
       },
       'tizi': {
         deviceStage("tizi", "tizi", ["UNSAFE=1"], [
-          ["build openpilot", "cd system/manager && ./build.py"],
-          ["test pandad loopback", "SINGLE_PANDA=1 pytest selfdrive/pandad/tests/test_pandad_loopback.py"],
-          ["test pandad spi", "pytest selfdrive/pandad/tests/test_pandad_spi.py"],
-          ["test pandad", "pytest selfdrive/pandad/tests/test_pandad.py", ["panda/", "selfdrive/pandad/"]],
-          ["test amp", "pytest system/hardware/tici/tests/test_amplifier.py"],
-          ["test qcomgpsd", "pytest system/qcomgpsd/tests/test_qcomgpsd.py"],
+          step("build openpilot", "cd system/manager && ./build.py"),
+          step("test pandad loopback", "SINGLE_PANDA=1 pytest selfdrive/pandad/tests/test_pandad_loopback.py"),
+          step("test pandad spi", "pytest selfdrive/pandad/tests/test_pandad_spi.py"),
+          step("test pandad", "pytest selfdrive/pandad/tests/test_pandad.py", [diffPaths: ["panda/", "selfdrive/pandad/"]]),
+          step("test amp", "pytest system/hardware/tici/tests/test_amplifier.py"),
+          step("test qcomgpsd", "pytest system/qcomgpsd/tests/test_qcomgpsd.py"),
         ])
       },