diff --git a/testing/talos/talos/run_tests.py b/testing/talos/talos/run_tests.py
index 7ca1e518048f..5effab91e987 100755
--- a/testing/talos/talos/run_tests.py
+++ b/testing/talos/talos/run_tests.py
@@ -47,6 +47,14 @@ def buildCommandLine(test):
     if 'tpmanifest' not in test:
         raise TalosError("tpmanifest not found in test: %s" % test)
 
+    # if profiling is on, override tppagecycles to prevent test hanging
+    if test['sps_profile']:
+        LOG.info("sps profiling is enabled so talos is reducing the number "
+                 "of cycles, please disregard reported numbers")
+        for cycle_var in ['tppagecycles', 'tpcycles', 'cycles']:
+            if test[cycle_var] > 2:
+                test[cycle_var] = 2
+
     # build pageloader command from options
     url = ['-tp', test['tpmanifest']]
     CLI_bool_options = ['tpchrome', 'tpmozafterpaint', 'tpdisable_e10s',