diff --git a/tests/tools/test_web_search_tool.py b/tests/tools/test_web_search_tool.py
index 2c6826dea..e33dd7e6c 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_web_search_tool.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_web_search_tool.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 """Tests for multi-provider web search."""
 
+import asyncio
+
 import httpx
 import pytest
 
@@ -205,3 +207,25 @@ async def test_jina_search_uses_path_encoded_query(monkeypatch):
     assert calls["params"] in (None, {})
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_duckduckgo_timeout_returns_error(monkeypatch):
+    """asyncio.wait_for guard should fire when DDG search hangs."""
+    import threading
+    gate = threading.Event()
+
+    class HangingDDGS:
+        def __init__(self, **kw):
+            pass
+
+        def text(self, query, max_results=5):
+            gate.wait(timeout=10)
+            return []
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("ddgs.DDGS", HangingDDGS)
+    tool = _tool(provider="duckduckgo")
+    tool.config.timeout = 0.2
+    result = await tool.execute(query="test")
+    gate.set()
+    assert "Error" in result
+
+