diff --git a/readthedocs/projects/models.py b/readthedocs/projects/models.py
index bcf60d5a58a..7649d875b85 100644
--- a/readthedocs/projects/models.py
+++ b/readthedocs/projects/models.py
@@ -651,8 +651,28 @@ def vcs_repo(self, version=LATEST, environment=None):
             repo = backend(self, version, environment)
         return repo
 
-    def repo_nonblockinglock(self, version, max_lock_age=5):
-        return NonBlockingLock(project=self, version=version, max_lock_age=max_lock_age)
+    def repo_nonblockinglock(self, version, max_lock_age=None):
+        """
+        Return a ``NonBlockingLock`` or raise an exception.
+
+        :param version: project's version that want to get the lock for.
+        :param max_lock_age: time (in seconds) to consider the lock's age is old
+            and grab it anyway. It default to the ``container_time_limit`` of
+            the project or the default ``DOCKER_LIMITS['time']`` or
+            ``REPO_LOCK_SECONDS`` or 30
+        """
+        if max_lock_age is None:
+            max_lock_age = (
+                self.container_time_limit or
+                getattr(settings, 'DOCKER_LIMITS', {}).get('time') or
+                getattr(settings, 'REPO_LOCK_SECONDS', 30)
+            )
+
+        return NonBlockingLock(
+            project=self,
+            version=version,
+            max_lock_age=max_lock_age,
+        )
 
     def repo_lock(self, version, timeout=5, polling_interval=5):
         return Lock(self, version, timeout, polling_interval)
diff --git a/readthedocs/projects/tasks.py b/readthedocs/projects/tasks.py
index c82b561219a..32fc8e058c3 100644
--- a/readthedocs/projects/tasks.py
+++ b/readthedocs/projects/tasks.py
@@ -113,10 +113,7 @@ def sync_repo(self):
                 ),
             )
 
-        with self.project.repo_nonblockinglock(
-                version=self.version,
-                max_lock_age=getattr(settings, 'REPO_LOCK_SECONDS', 30)):
-
+        with self.project.repo_nonblockinglock(version=self.version):
             # Get the actual code on disk
             try:
                 before_vcs.send(sender=self.version)
@@ -649,10 +646,7 @@ def setup_python_environment(self):
         """
         self.build_env.update_build(state=BUILD_STATE_INSTALLING)
 
-        with self.project.repo_nonblockinglock(
-                version=self.version,
-                max_lock_age=getattr(settings, 'REPO_LOCK_SECONDS', 30)):
-
+        with self.project.repo_nonblockinglock(version=self.version):
             # Check if the python version/build image in the current venv is the
             # same to be used in this build and if it differs, wipe the venv to
             # avoid conflicts.
@@ -682,9 +676,7 @@ def build_docs(self):
         before_build.send(sender=self.version)
 
         outcomes = defaultdict(lambda: False)
-        with self.project.repo_nonblockinglock(
-                version=self.version,
-                max_lock_age=getattr(settings, 'REPO_LOCK_SECONDS', 30)):
+        with self.project.repo_nonblockinglock(version=self.version):
             outcomes['html'] = self.build_docs_html()
             outcomes['search'] = self.build_docs_search()
             outcomes['localmedia'] = self.build_docs_localmedia()