diff --git a/checks.d/kafka_consumer.py b/checks.d/kafka_consumer.py
index 5df75795ed..8497768d3b 100644
--- a/checks.d/kafka_consumer.py
+++ b/checks.d/kafka_consumer.py
@@ -1,20 +1,30 @@
 # stdlib
 from collections import defaultdict
-import random
 
-# project
-from checks import AgentCheck
-
-# 3rd party
+# 3p
 from kafka.client import KafkaClient
 from kafka.common import OffsetRequest
 from kazoo.client import KazooClient
 from kazoo.exceptions import NoNodeError
 
+# project
+from checks import AgentCheck
+
+DEFAULT_KAFKA_TIMEOUT = 5
+DEFAULT_ZK_TIMEOUT = 5
+
+
 class KafkaCheck(AgentCheck):
 
     SOURCE_TYPE_NAME = 'kafka'
 
+    def __init__(self, name, init_config, agentConfig, instances=None):
+        AgentCheck.__init__(self, name, init_config, agentConfig, instances=instances)
+        self.zk_timeout = int(
+            init_config.get('zk_timeout', DEFAULT_ZK_TIMEOUT))
+        self.kafka_timeout = int(
+            init_config.get('kafka_timeout', DEFAULT_KAFKA_TIMEOUT))
+
     def check(self, instance):
         consumer_groups = self.read_config(instance, 'consumer_groups',
                                            cast=self._validate_consumer_groups)
@@ -26,7 +36,7 @@ def check(self, instance):
         zk_path_tmpl = zk_prefix + '/consumers/%s/offsets/%s/%s'
 
         # Connect to Zookeeper
-        zk_conn = KazooClient(zk_connect_str)
+        zk_conn = KazooClient(zk_connect_str, timeout=self.zk_timeout)
         zk_conn.start()
 
         try:
@@ -56,7 +66,7 @@ def check(self, instance):
                 self.log.exception('Error cleaning up Zookeeper connection')
 
         # Connect to Kafka
-        kafka_conn = KafkaClient(kafka_host_ports)
+        kafka_conn = KafkaClient(kafka_host_ports, timeout=self.kafka_timeout)
 
         try:
             # Query Kafka for the broker offsets
diff --git a/conf.d/kafka_consumer.yaml.example b/conf.d/kafka_consumer.yaml.example
index 0ac9e5e230..f6b9a71d1d 100644
--- a/conf.d/kafka_consumer.yaml.example
+++ b/conf.d/kafka_consumer.yaml.example
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 init_config:
+#  Customize the ZooKeeper connection timeout here
+#  zk_timeout: 5
+#  Customize the Kafka connection timeout here
+#  kafka_timeout: 5
 
 instances:
   # - kafka_connect_str: localhost:19092