diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/experimental/job_recv.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/experimental/job_recv.rs
index 1ed6cf44c2..a3230e5ac3 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/experimental/job_recv.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/experimental/job_recv.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
-use std::{sync::mpsc::RecvTimeoutError, time::Duration};
+use std::{sync::mpsc::RecvTimeoutError, time::Duration, time::Instant};
 
 use nu_engine::command_prelude::*;
-use nu_protocol::engine::FilterTag;
+
+use nu_protocol::{
+    engine::{FilterTag, Mailbox},
+    Signals,
+};
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct JobRecv;
@@ -80,33 +84,12 @@ in no particular order, regardless of the specified timeout parameter.
             .lock()
             .expect("failed to acquire lock");
 
-        if let Some(timeout) = timeout {
-            let value = mailbox
-                .recv_timeout(tag, timeout)
-                .map_err(|error| match error {
-                    RecvTimeoutError::Timeout => ShellError::RecvTimeout { span: head },
-
-                    // if the channel was disconnected, it means this job was removed from the job
-                    // table, so it was killed/interrupted
-                    RecvTimeoutError::Disconnected => ShellError::Interrupted { span: head },
-                })?;
-
-            Ok(value.into_pipeline_data())
+        return if let Some(timeout) = timeout {
+            recv_with_time_limit(&mut mailbox, tag, engine_state.signals(), head, timeout)
         } else {
-            loop {
-                if engine_state.signals().interrupted() {
-                    return Err(ShellError::Interrupted { span: head });
-                }
-
-                match mailbox.recv_timeout(tag, CTRL_C_CHECK_INTERVAL) {
-                    Ok(value) => return Ok(value.into_pipeline_data()),
-                    Err(RecvTimeoutError::Timeout) => {} // try again
-                    Err(RecvTimeoutError::Disconnected) => {
-                        return Err(ShellError::Interrupted { span: head })
-                    }
-                }
-            }
+            recv_without_time_limit(&mut mailbox, tag, engine_state.signals(), head)
         }
+        .map(|value| value.into_pipeline_data());
     }
 
     fn examples(&self) -> Vec<Example> {
@@ -117,3 +100,51 @@ in no particular order, regardless of the specified timeout parameter.
         }]
     }
 }
+
+fn recv_without_time_limit(
+    mailbox: &mut Mailbox,
+    tag: Option<FilterTag>,
+    signals: &Signals,
+    span: Span,
+) -> Result<Value, ShellError> {
+    loop {
+        if signals.interrupted() {
+            return Err(ShellError::Interrupted { span });
+        }
+        match mailbox.recv_timeout(tag, CTRL_C_CHECK_INTERVAL) {
+            Ok(value) => return Ok(value),
+            Err(RecvTimeoutError::Timeout) => {} // try again
+            Err(RecvTimeoutError::Disconnected) => return Err(ShellError::Interrupted { span }),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn recv_with_time_limit(
+    mailbox: &mut Mailbox,
+    tag: Option<FilterTag>,
+    signals: &Signals,
+    span: Span,
+    timeout: Duration,
+) -> Result<Value, ShellError> {
+    let deadline = Instant::now() + timeout;
+
+    loop {
+        if signals.interrupted() {
+            return Err(ShellError::Interrupted { span });
+        }
+
+        let time_until_deadline = deadline.saturating_duration_since(Instant::now());
+
+        let time_to_sleep = time_until_deadline.min(CTRL_C_CHECK_INTERVAL);
+
+        match mailbox.recv_timeout(tag, time_to_sleep) {
+            Ok(value) => return Ok(value),
+            Err(RecvTimeoutError::Timeout) => {} // try again
+            Err(RecvTimeoutError::Disconnected) => return Err(ShellError::Interrupted { span }),
+        }
+
+        if time_until_deadline.is_zero() {
+            return Err(ShellError::RecvTimeout { span });
+        }
+    }
+}