diff --git a/tests/notebooks/test_bernstein_vazirani_tutorial.py b/tests/notebooks/test_bernstein_vazirani_tutorial.py
index 2a747679..2ee2caea 100644
--- a/tests/notebooks/test_bernstein_vazirani_tutorial.py
+++ b/tests/notebooks/test_bernstein_vazirani_tutorial.py
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@
 import numpy as np
 
 
-@wrap_testbook("bernstein_vazirani_tutorial", timeout_seconds=30)
+@wrap_testbook(
+    "bernstein_vazirani_tutorial", timeout_seconds=100
+)  # 2025.03.06 bump from 30 seconds
 def test_notebook(tb: TestbookNotebookClient) -> None:
     # test models
     validate_quantum_model(tb.ref("qmod"))
diff --git a/tests/notebooks/test_hamiltonian_simulation_guide.py b/tests/notebooks/test_hamiltonian_simulation_guide.py
index 4ff052a7..c2e34a11 100644
--- a/tests/notebooks/test_hamiltonian_simulation_guide.py
+++ b/tests/notebooks/test_hamiltonian_simulation_guide.py
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@
 from testbook.client import TestbookNotebookClient
 
 
-@wrap_testbook("hamiltonian_simulation_guide", timeout_seconds=1000)
+@wrap_testbook(
+    "hamiltonian_simulation_guide", timeout_seconds=2000
+)  # 2025.03.06 bump from 1000 seconds
 def test_notebook(tb: TestbookNotebookClient) -> None:
     # test models
     validate_quantum_model(tb.ref("qmod_trotter"))
diff --git a/tests/notebooks/test_hamiltonian_simulation_with_block_encoding.py b/tests/notebooks/test_hamiltonian_simulation_with_block_encoding.py
index b44c9a59..2b6cddb0 100644
--- a/tests/notebooks/test_hamiltonian_simulation_with_block_encoding.py
+++ b/tests/notebooks/test_hamiltonian_simulation_with_block_encoding.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 )
 from testbook.client import TestbookNotebookClient
 
+import numpy as np
+
 
 @wrap_testbook("hamiltonian_simulation_with_block_encoding", timeout_seconds=600)
 def test_notebook(tb: TestbookNotebookClient) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/notebooks/test_learning_optimization.py b/tests/notebooks/test_learning_optimization.py
index a0a84d23..ae30d5bc 100644
--- a/tests/notebooks/test_learning_optimization.py
+++ b/tests/notebooks/test_learning_optimization.py
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@
 from testbook.client import TestbookNotebookClient
 
 
-@wrap_testbook("learning_optimization", timeout_seconds=80)
+@wrap_testbook(
+    "learning_optimization", timeout_seconds=200
+)  # 2025.03.06 bump from 80 seconds
 def test_notebook(tb: TestbookNotebookClient) -> None:
     # test models
     validate_quantum_model(tb.ref("qmod_1"))
diff --git a/tests/notebooks/test_mcx.py b/tests/notebooks/test_mcx.py
index 3a10a772..97d5ef76 100644
--- a/tests/notebooks/test_mcx.py
+++ b/tests/notebooks/test_mcx.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def test_notebook(tb: TestbookNotebookClient) -> None:
     validate_quantum_program_size(
         tb.ref("qprog_4"),
         expected_width=80,  # actual width: 69
-        expected_depth=600,  # actual depth: 494
+        expected_depth=1500,  # actual depth: 494 ; also was 920
     )
 
     # test notebook content
diff --git a/tests/test_notebooks.py b/tests/test_notebooks.py
index 74aeee83..f1771885 100644
--- a/tests/test_notebooks.py
+++ b/tests/test_notebooks.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 
 from testbook import testbook  # type: ignore[import]
-from utils_for_tests import iterate_notebooks
+from utils_for_tests import iterate_notebooks, ROOT_DIRECTORY
 
 TIMEOUT: int = 60 * 10  # 10 minutes
 LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ def test_notebooks() -> None:
 @contextmanager
 def cwd(path):
     oldpwd = os.getcwd()
+    os.chdir(ROOT_DIRECTORY)
     os.chdir(path)
     try:
         yield