diff --git a/backend/scripts/run_reddit_simulation.py b/backend/scripts/run_reddit_simulation.py
index 4d0b0ba..854eeb0 100644
--- a/backend/scripts/run_reddit_simulation.py
+++ b/backend/scripts/run_reddit_simulation.py
@@ -639,9 +639,18 @@ class RedditSimulationRunner:
                 agent: LLMAction()
                 for _, agent in active_agents
             }
-            
-            await self.env.step(actions)
-            
+
+            print(f"  Round {round_num+1}: stepping with {len(actions)} agents...", flush=True)
+            try:
+                await asyncio.wait_for(self.env.step(actions), timeout=300)
+            except asyncio.TimeoutError:
+                print(f"  Round {round_num+1}: TIMEOUT after 300s, skipping", flush=True)
+                continue
+            except Exception as e:
+                print(f"  Round {round_num+1}: ERROR {type(e).__name__}: {e}", flush=True)
+                continue
+            print(f"  Round {round_num+1}: step complete", flush=True)
+
             if (round_num + 1) % 10 == 0 or round_num == 0:
                 elapsed = (datetime.now() - start_time).total_seconds()
                 progress = (round_num + 1) / total_rounds * 100