diff --git a/platform/o.n.bootstrap/src/org/netbeans/NbClipboard.java b/platform/o.n.bootstrap/src/org/netbeans/NbClipboard.java
index 410b6b11a6c0..7d44bc5d88c1 100644
--- a/platform/o.n.bootstrap/src/org/netbeans/NbClipboard.java
+++ b/platform/o.n.bootstrap/src/org/netbeans/NbClipboard.java
@@ -436,13 +436,14 @@ public void run() {
                 // indefinitely. Running the access loop here is deemed similar
                 // in nature.
                 final int MAX_TRIES = 50;
+                final long start = System.currentTimeMillis();
                 for (int i = 0; i < MAX_TRIES; i++) {
                     try {
                         transferable = systemClipboard.getContents(this);
                         break;
                     } catch (IllegalStateException ex) {
                         // Throw exception if retries failed
-                        if(i == (MAX_TRIES - 1)) {
+                        if (i == (MAX_TRIES - 1) || (System.currentTimeMillis() - start) > 980L) {
                             throw ex;
                         } else {
                             log.log(Level.INFO, "systemClipboard#getContents threw IllegalStateException (try: {0})", i + 1); // NOI18N