diff --git a/pgw/PGW_Tests.ttcn b/pgw/PGW_Tests.ttcn
index d9f4979..a65ca43 100644
--- a/pgw/PGW_Tests.ttcn
+++ b/pgw/PGW_Tests.ttcn
@@ -40,6 +40,16 @@
 	var DIAMETER_Emulation_CT vc_DIAMETER;
 	port DIAMETER_PT DIAMETER_UNIT;
 	port DIAMETEREM_PROC_PT DIAMETER_PROC;
+	/* global test case guard timer (actual timeout value is set in f_init()) */
+	timer T_guard;
+}
+
+/* global altstep for global guard timer; */
+altstep as_Tguard() runs on PGW_Test_CT {
+	[] T_guard.timeout {
+			setverdict(fail, "Timeout of T_guard");
+			mtc.stop;
+		}
 }
 
 /* per-session component; we typically have 1..N per testcase */
@@ -138,7 +148,10 @@
 	f_diameter_wait_capability(DIAMETER_UNIT);
 }
 
-private function f_init() runs on PGW_Test_CT {
+private function f_init(float guard_timeout := 60.0) runs on PGW_Test_CT {
+	T_guard.start(guard_timeout);
+	activate(as_Tguard());
+
 	var Gtp2EmulationCfg cfg := {
 		gtpc_bind_ip := mp_local_hostname_c,
 		gtpc_bind_port := GTP2C_PORT,