diff --git a/eqcorrscan/core/match_filter/helpers/processes.py b/eqcorrscan/core/match_filter/helpers/processes.py
index 2813f26f3..7a85945c0 100644
--- a/eqcorrscan/core/match_filter/helpers/processes.py
+++ b/eqcorrscan/core/match_filter/helpers/processes.py
@@ -108,14 +108,41 @@ def _wait_on_output_to_be_available(
     poison_queue: Queue,
     output_queue: Queue,
     raise_exception: bool = False,
-    item=None
+    item=None,
+    wait_warning: float = 60,
 ) -> Union[Poison, None]:
     """
+    Wait until the output queue is not full to put something in it.
 
-    :param poison_queue:
+    :param poison_queue: Queue to put or containing poison
     :param output_queue:
-    :param item:
-    :return:
+        Output Queue to check whether we can put something in it
+    :param item: Thing to put in the queue when we can
+    :param raise_exception:
+        Whether to raise an exception on poison (True), or pass back (False)
+
+    :return: Poison if poisoned, or None if all okay
+
+    .. rubric:: Example
+
+    >>> from multiprocessing import Queue, Process
+    >>> poison_queue, output_queue = Queue(), Queue(maxsize=1)
+    >>> output_queue.put("Stopper")
+    >>> process = Process(
+    ...    target=_wait_on_output_to_be_available,
+    ...    kwargs={"poison_queue": poison_queue,
+    ...            "output_queue": output_queue,
+    ...            "raise_exception": True,
+    ...            "item": "Carry on",
+    ...            "wait_warning": 5})
+    >>> process.start()
+    >>> time.sleep(7)
+    >>> poison_queue.put(
+    ...    Poison(Exception("cyanide")))
+    >>> time.sleep(7)
+    >>> process.is_alive()
+    False
+    >>> process.join()
     """
     killed = _check_for_poison(poison_queue)
     # Wait until output queue is empty to limit rate and memory use
@@ -126,7 +153,7 @@ def _wait_on_output_to_be_available(
         if killed:
             break
         waited = default_timer() - tic
-        if waited > 60:
+        if waited > wait_warning:
             Logger.debug("Waiting for output_queue to not be full")
             tic = default_timer()
     if not killed and item: