diff --git a/variables.mk b/variables.mk
index 65f493d2..fc2fc127 100644
--- a/variables.mk
+++ b/variables.mk
@@ -29,8 +29,7 @@ HELP_SIMULATION_VARIABLES = \
 "   LOADMEM                = riscv elf binary that should be loaded directly into simulated DRAM. LOADMEM=1 will load the BINARY elf" \
 "   LOADARCH               = path to a architectural checkpoint directory that should end in .loadarch/, for restoring from a checkpoint" \
 "   VERBOSE_FLAGS          = flags used when doing verbose simulation [$(VERBOSE_FLAGS)]" \
-"   timeout_cycles         = number of clock cycles before simulator times out, defaults to 10000000" \
-"   bmark_timeout_cycles   = number of clock cycles before benchmark simulator times out, defaults to 100000000"
+"   TIMEOUT_CYCLES         = number of clock cycles before simulator times out, defaults to 10000000"
 
 # include default simulation rules
 HELP_COMMANDS = \
@@ -275,7 +274,7 @@ PERMISSIVE_ON=+permissive
 PERMISSIVE_OFF=+permissive-off
 BINARY ?=
 BINARIES ?=
-override SIM_FLAGS += +dramsim +dramsim_ini_dir=$(TESTCHIP_DIR)/src/main/resources/dramsim2_ini +max-cycles=$(timeout_cycles)
+override SIM_FLAGS += +dramsim +dramsim_ini_dir=$(TESTCHIP_DIR)/src/main/resources/dramsim2_ini +max-cycles=$(TIMEOUT_CYCLES)
 VERBOSE_FLAGS ?= +verbose
 # get_out_name is a function, 1st argument is the binary
 get_out_name = $(subst $() $(),_,$(notdir $(basename $(1))))
@@ -301,7 +300,12 @@ build_dir           =$(gen_dir)/$(long_name)
 GEN_COLLATERAL_DIR ?=$(build_dir)/gen-collateral
 
 #########################################################################################
-# assembly/benchmark variables
+# simulation variables
 #########################################################################################
-timeout_cycles = 10000000
-bmark_timeout_cycles = 100000000
+TIMEOUT_CYCLES = 10000000
+
+# legacy timeout_cycles handling
+timeout_cycles ?=
+ifneq ($(timeout_cycles),)
+TIMEOUT_CYCLES=$(timeout_cycles)
+endif
diff --git a/vlsi/power.mk b/vlsi/power.mk
index ff1c1729..c006d338 100644
--- a/vlsi/power.mk
+++ b/vlsi/power.mk
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ endif
 endif
 	echo "  start_times: ['0ns']" >> $@
 	echo "  end_times: [" >> $@
-	echo "    '`bc <<< $(timeout_cycles)*$(CLOCK_PERIOD)`ns'" >> $@
+	echo "    '`bc <<< $(TIMEOUT_CYCLES)*$(CLOCK_PERIOD)`ns'" >> $@
 	echo "  ]" >> $@
 
 $(POWER_RTL_CONF): $(VLSI_RTL)
diff --git a/vlsi/sim.mk b/vlsi/sim.mk
index 1da6f0bc..f5ff85ff 100644
--- a/vlsi/sim.mk
+++ b/vlsi/sim.mk
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ endif
 	echo "  execution_flags_meta: 'append'" >> $@
 	echo "  saif.mode: 'time'" >> $@
 	echo "  saif.start_time: '0ns'" >> $@
-	echo "  saif.end_time: '`bc <<< $(timeout_cycles)*$(CLOCK_PERIOD)`ns'" >> $@
+	echo "  saif.end_time: '`bc <<< $(TIMEOUT_CYCLES)*$(CLOCK_PERIOD)`ns'" >> $@
 ifndef USE_VPD
 	echo "  options:" >> $@
 	echo '    - "-kdb"' >> $@