diff --git a/tests/test_tq_cli.py b/tests/test_tq_cli.py
index d44fc81..c04f203 100644
--- a/tests/test_tq_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_tq_cli.py
@@ -11,12 +11,15 @@
 import sys
 import tempfile
 import time
+from collections.abc import Callable
 from pathlib import Path
+from typing import TypeVar
 
 import pytest
 
 # Path to tq.py
 TQ_PATH = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "tq.py"
+T = TypeVar("T")
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
@@ -43,37 +46,106 @@ def run_tq(*args, data_dir=None, cwd=None, timeout=30):
     return result
 
 
-def wait_for_queue_rows(db_path: Path, status: str, expected_count: int, timeout: float = 5.0):
-    """Poll until the queue has the expected number of rows with the given status."""
-    deadline = time.time() + timeout
-    last_error = None
-
-    while time.time() < deadline:
+def poll_with_linear_backoff(
+    operation: Callable[[], T],
+    *,
+    is_ready: Callable[[T], bool],
+    timeout: float,
+    description: str,
+    retriable_exceptions: tuple[type[Exception], ...] = (),
+    initial_delay: float = 0.05,
+    delay_step: float = 0.05,
+    max_delay: float = 0.5,
+) -> T:
+    """Poll until a condition is ready using a bounded linear backoff."""
+    deadline = time.monotonic() + timeout
+    delay = initial_delay
+    last_error: Exception | None = None
+
+    while True:
         try:
-            conn = sqlite3.connect(db_path, timeout=5.0)
-            conn.row_factory = sqlite3.Row
-            try:
-                count = conn.execute(
-                    "SELECT COUNT(*) as c FROM queue WHERE status = ?",
-                    (status,),
-                ).fetchone()["c"]
-            finally:
-                conn.close()
-
-            if count == expected_count:
-                return
-        except sqlite3.OperationalError as exc:
+            value = operation()
+            last_error = None
+            if is_ready(value):
+                return value
+        except retriable_exceptions as exc:
             last_error = exc
 
-        time.sleep(0.05)
+        remaining = deadline - time.monotonic()
+        if remaining <= 0:
+            break
+
+        time.sleep(min(delay, remaining))
+        delay = min(delay + delay_step, max_delay)
 
     if last_error is not None:
         raise last_error
-    raise AssertionError(
-        f"Timed out waiting for {expected_count} queue rows with status={status!r}"
+    raise AssertionError(f"Timed out waiting for {description}")
+
+
+def wait_for_queue_rows(db_path: Path, status: str, expected_count: int, timeout: float = 5.0):
+    """Poll until the queue has the expected number of rows with the given status."""
+
+    def read_count() -> int:
+        conn = sqlite3.connect(db_path, timeout=5.0)
+        conn.row_factory = sqlite3.Row
+        try:
+            return conn.execute(
+                "SELECT COUNT(*) as c FROM queue WHERE status = ?",
+                (status,),
+            ).fetchone()["c"]
+        finally:
+            conn.close()
+
+    poll_with_linear_backoff(
+        read_count,
+        is_ready=lambda count: count == expected_count,
+        timeout=timeout,
+        description=f"{expected_count} queue rows with status={status!r}",
+        retriable_exceptions=(sqlite3.OperationalError,),
     )
 
 
+def wait_for_queue_row(
+    db_path: Path,
+    query: str,
+    params: tuple = (),
+    *,
+    timeout: float = 5.0,
+    predicate: Callable[[sqlite3.Row], bool] | None = None,
+):
+    """Poll until a query returns a row, optionally requiring an additional predicate."""
+
+    def read_row() -> sqlite3.Row | None:
+        conn = sqlite3.connect(db_path, timeout=5.0)
+        conn.row_factory = sqlite3.Row
+        try:
+            return conn.execute(query, params).fetchone()
+        finally:
+            conn.close()
+
+    return poll_with_linear_backoff(
+        read_row,
+        is_ready=lambda row: row is not None and (predicate is None or predicate(row)),
+        timeout=timeout,
+        description=f"queue query: {query}",
+        retriable_exceptions=(sqlite3.OperationalError,),
+    )
+
+
+def wait_for_process_exit(proc: subprocess.Popen, timeout: float = 10.0):
+    """Poll until a subprocess exits so signal-handling tests do not depend on one wait tick."""
+    try:
+        return poll_with_linear_backoff(
+            proc.poll,
+            is_ready=lambda returncode: returncode is not None,
+            timeout=timeout,
+            description=f"process exit: {proc.args}",
+        )
+    except AssertionError as exc:
+        raise subprocess.TimeoutExpired(proc.args, timeout) from exc
+
+
 class TestTqRun:
     """Tests for the tq run command."""
 
@@ -649,20 +721,21 @@ def test_sigint_cleanup_running_task(self, temp_data_dir):
         # Wait for it to start running
         wait_for_queue_rows(db_path, "running", 1)
 
-        # Verify it's running
-        conn = sqlite3.connect(db_path, timeout=5.0)
-        conn.row_factory = sqlite3.Row
-        running = conn.execute("SELECT * FROM queue WHERE status = 'running'").fetchone()
+        # Wait for the stronger running condition this test depends on.
+        running = wait_for_queue_row(
+            db_path,
+            "SELECT * FROM queue WHERE status = 'running'",
+            predicate=lambda row: row["child_pid"] is not None,
+        )
         assert running is not None, "Task should be running"
         task_id = running["id"]
         child_pid = running["child_pid"]
-        assert child_pid is not None, "Child PID should be recorded"
 
         # Send SIGINT
         proc.send_signal(signal.SIGINT)
 
         # Wait for cleanup
-        proc.wait(timeout=10)
+        wait_for_process_exit(proc, timeout=10)
         assert proc.returncode == 130, "Should exit with 130 (128 + SIGINT)"
 
         # Verify task was cleaned up
@@ -733,7 +806,7 @@ def test_multiple_waiters_cancelled(self, temp_data_dir):
 
         # Wait for all to exit
         for waiter in waiters:
-            waiter.wait(timeout=5)
+            wait_for_process_exit(waiter, timeout=10)
 
         # Verify all waiting tasks were cleaned up
         conn = sqlite3.connect(db_path, timeout=5.0)