diff --git a/services/capture/deltacast-bridge/main.c b/services/capture/deltacast-bridge/main.c
index f9176ba..b36dd6f 100644
--- a/services/capture/deltacast-bridge/main.c
+++ b/services/capture/deltacast-bridge/main.c
@@ -280,7 +280,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
      * (already bind-mounted into every capture sidecar) to guarantee only
      * one bridge runs OpenBoardHandle + signal-wait at a time. The lock is
      * released after signal lock succeeds (plus a settle delay) or on
-     * failure — so the next bridge is never permanently blocked. */
+     * failure — so the next bridge is never permanently blocked.
+     *
+     * IMPORTANT: the signal-wait deadline is set AFTER acquiring the lock so
+     * the full sig_timeout is available for signal detection regardless of
+     * how long this bridge waited in the queue. */
     const char *lock_path = "/dev/shm/deltacast/bridge.lock";
     int lock_fd = open(lock_path, O_CREAT | O_RDWR, 0666);
     if (lock_fd >= 0) {
@@ -313,7 +317,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         VHD_SetBoardProperty(board, loopback_prop(port_id), FALSE);
     }
 
-    /* ── Wait for signal lock ──────────────────────────────────────── */
+    /* ── Wait for signal lock ──────────────────────────────────────────
+     * Deadline is set HERE — after the flock is acquired and the board is
+     * open — so the full sig_timeout is available regardless of queue wait. */
     ULONG video_std = (ULONG)NB_VHD_VIDEOSTANDARDS;
     struct timespec deadline;
     clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &deadline);