diff --git a/lib/api.js b/lib/api.js
index ff0f0f74c..f43fad799 100644
--- a/lib/api.js
+++ b/lib/api.js
@@ -218,9 +218,8 @@ export default class Api extends Emittery {
 			}
 
 			runStatus.on('stateChange', record => {
-				if (record.testFile && !timedOutWorkerFiles.has(record.testFile)) {
-					// Debounce the timer whenever there is activity from workers that
-					// haven't already timed out.
+				if (record.testFile && !timedOutWorkerFiles.has(record.testFile) && record.type !== 'worker-stderr' && record.type !== 'worker-stdout') {
+					// Debounce the timer whenever there is test-related activity from workers that haven't already timed out.
 					timeoutTrigger.debounce();
 				}
 
diff --git a/test/idle-timeouts/fixtures/console-output.js b/test/idle-timeouts/fixtures/console-output.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..af879f8ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/idle-timeouts/fixtures/console-output.js
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+import {setTimeout as delay} from 'node:timers/promises';
+import test from 'ava';
+
+test('timeout with console output', async t => {
+	t.timeout(1000, 'timeout despite console output');
+	for (let i = 0; await delay(100, true); i++) {
+		if (i % 2 === 0) {
+			console.log('stdout');
+		} else {
+			console.error('stderr');
+		}
+	}
+});
diff --git a/test/idle-timeouts/fixtures/package.json b/test/idle-timeouts/fixtures/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..eceb819c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/idle-timeouts/fixtures/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+	"type": "module",
+	"ava": {
+		"files": [
+			"*.js"
+		],
+		"timeout": "500ms"
+	}
+}
diff --git a/test/idle-timeouts/test.js b/test/idle-timeouts/test.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..635ad86ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/idle-timeouts/test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+import test from '@ava/test';
+
+import {fixture} from '../helpers/exec.js';
+
+test('idle timeouts are not blocked by console output', async t => {
+	const result = await t.throwsAsync(fixture(['console-output.js']));
+	const error = result.stats.getError(result.stats.failed[0]);
+	t.is(error.message, 'timeout despite console output');
+});