diff --git a/src/tools/compiletest/src/executor.rs b/src/tools/compiletest/src/executor.rs
index 0c173d476affa..990be56ce0c5e 100644
--- a/src/tools/compiletest/src/executor.rs
+++ b/src/tools/compiletest/src/executor.rs
@@ -57,9 +57,11 @@ pub(crate) fn run_tests(config: &Config, tests: Vec<CollectedTest>) -> bool {
         }
 
         let completion = deadline_queue
-            .read_channel_while_checking_deadlines(&completion_rx, |_id, test| {
-                listener.test_timed_out(test);
-            })
+            .read_channel_while_checking_deadlines(
+                &completion_rx,
+                |id| running_tests.contains_key(&id),
+                |_id, test| listener.test_timed_out(test),
+            )
             .expect("receive channel should never be closed early");
 
         let RunningTest { test, join_handle } = running_tests.remove(&completion.id).unwrap();
diff --git a/src/tools/compiletest/src/executor/deadline.rs b/src/tools/compiletest/src/executor/deadline.rs
index 83b8591a41642..551c4030df41c 100644
--- a/src/tools/compiletest/src/executor/deadline.rs
+++ b/src/tools/compiletest/src/executor/deadline.rs
@@ -21,16 +21,24 @@ impl<'a> DeadlineQueue<'a> {
         Self { queue: VecDeque::with_capacity(capacity) }
     }
 
+    fn now(&self) -> Instant {
+        Instant::now()
+    }
+
     pub(crate) fn push(&mut self, id: TestId, test: &'a CollectedTest) {
-        let deadline = Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(TEST_WARN_TIMEOUT_S);
+        let deadline = self.now() + Duration::from_secs(TEST_WARN_TIMEOUT_S);
+        if let Some(back) = self.queue.back() {
+            assert!(back.deadline <= deadline);
+        }
         self.queue.push_back(DeadlineEntry { id, test, deadline });
     }
 
-    /// Equivalent to `rx.read()`, except that if any test exceeds its deadline
+    /// Equivalent to `rx.recv()`, except that if a test exceeds its deadline
     /// during the wait, the given callback will also be called for that test.
     pub(crate) fn read_channel_while_checking_deadlines<T>(
         &mut self,
         rx: &mpsc::Receiver<T>,
+        is_running: impl Fn(TestId) -> bool,
         mut on_deadline_passed: impl FnMut(TestId, &CollectedTest),
     ) -> Result<T, RecvError> {
         loop {
@@ -39,18 +47,18 @@ impl<'a> DeadlineQueue<'a> {
                 // deadline, so do a normal receive.
                 return rx.recv();
             };
-            let wait_duration = next_deadline.saturating_duration_since(Instant::now());
+            let next_deadline_timeout = next_deadline.saturating_duration_since(self.now());
+
+            let recv_result = rx.recv_timeout(next_deadline_timeout);
+            // Process deadlines after every receive attempt, regardless of
+            // outcome, so that we don't build up an unbounded backlog of stale
+            // entries due to a constant stream of tests finishing.
+            self.for_each_entry_past_deadline(&is_running, &mut on_deadline_passed);
 
-            let recv_result = rx.recv_timeout(wait_duration);
             match recv_result {
                 Ok(value) => return Ok(value),
-                Err(RecvTimeoutError::Timeout) => {
-                    // Notify the callback of tests that have exceeded their
-                    // deadline, then loop and do annother channel read.
-                    for DeadlineEntry { id, test, .. } in self.remove_tests_past_deadline() {
-                        on_deadline_passed(id, test);
-                    }
-                }
+                // Deadlines have already been processed, so loop and do another receive.
+                Err(RecvTimeoutError::Timeout) => {}
                 Err(RecvTimeoutError::Disconnected) => return Err(RecvError),
             }
         }
@@ -60,14 +68,28 @@ impl<'a> DeadlineQueue<'a> {
         Some(self.queue.front()?.deadline)
     }
 
-    fn remove_tests_past_deadline(&mut self) -> Vec<DeadlineEntry<'a>> {
-        let now = Instant::now();
-        let mut timed_out = vec![];
-        while let Some(deadline_entry) = pop_front_if(&mut self.queue, |entry| now < entry.deadline)
-        {
-            timed_out.push(deadline_entry);
+    fn for_each_entry_past_deadline(
+        &mut self,
+        is_running: impl Fn(TestId) -> bool,
+        mut on_deadline_passed: impl FnMut(TestId, &CollectedTest),
+    ) {
+        let now = self.now();
+
+        // Clear out entries that are past their deadline, but only invoke the
+        // callback for tests that are still considered running.
+        while let Some(entry) = pop_front_if(&mut self.queue, |entry| entry.deadline <= now) {
+            if is_running(entry.id) {
+                on_deadline_passed(entry.id, entry.test);
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Also clear out any leading entries that are no longer running, even
+        // if their deadline hasn't been reached.
+        while let Some(_) = pop_front_if(&mut self.queue, |entry| !is_running(entry.id)) {}
+
+        if let Some(front) = self.queue.front() {
+            assert!(now < front.deadline);
         }
-        timed_out
     }
 }