diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 5b54774cad..d2f51d3b86 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic
 Versioning](http://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
 ## Unreleased
+- Added ability to make the Resty HTTP Timeout configurable.
 
 ### Added
 - The `sensu.io/managed_by` label is now automatically applied to resources
diff --git a/cli/client/client.go b/cli/client/client.go
index 25e8fbaa43..138accb7f8 100644
--- a/cli/client/client.go
+++ b/cli/client/client.go
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func New(config config.Config) *RestClient {
 	client := &RestClient{resty: restyInst, config: config}
 
 	// set http client timeout
-	restyInst.SetTimeout(15 * time.Second)
+	restyInst.SetTimeout(config.Timeout())
 
 	// Standardize redirect policy
 	restyInst.SetRedirectPolicy(resty.FlexibleRedirectPolicy(10))
diff --git a/cli/client/config/basic/basic.go b/cli/client/config/basic/basic.go
index 268d29be59..c8b8574613 100644
--- a/cli/client/config/basic/basic.go
+++ b/cli/client/config/basic/basic.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/sensu/sensu-go/cli/commands/helpers"
 	"github.com/sensu/sensu-go/types"
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ type Cluster struct {
 	TrustedCAFile         string `json:"trusted-ca-file"`
 	InsecureSkipTLSVerify bool   `json:"insecure-skip-tls-verify"`
 	*types.Tokens
+	Timeout time.Duration `json:"timeout"`
 }
 
 // Profile contains the active configuration
@@ -110,6 +112,16 @@ func (c *Config) flags(flags *pflag.FlagSet) {
 	if value, err := flags.GetString("trusted-ca-file"); err == nil && value != "" {
 		c.Cluster.TrustedCAFile = value
 	}
+
+	if value, err := flags.GetString("timeout"); err == nil && value != "" {
+		duration, err := time.ParseDuration(value)
+		if err == nil {
+			c.Cluster.Timeout = duration
+		} else {
+			// Default to timeout of 15 seconds
+			c.Cluster.Timeout = 15 * time.Second
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 func (c *Config) open(path string) error {
diff --git a/cli/client/config/basic/reader.go b/cli/client/config/basic/reader.go
index a659335c47..030627d21d 100644
--- a/cli/client/config/basic/reader.go
+++ b/cli/client/config/basic/reader.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package basic
 
 import (
+	"time"
+
 	"github.com/sensu/sensu-go/cli/client/config"
 	"github.com/sensu/sensu-go/types"
 )
@@ -31,6 +33,14 @@ func (c *Config) Namespace() string {
 	return c.Profile.Namespace
 }
 
+// Timeout returns the configured timeout
+func (c *Config) Timeout() time.Duration {
+	if c.Cluster.Timeout == 0*time.Second {
+		return config.DefaultTimeout
+	}
+	return c.Cluster.Timeout
+}
+
 // Tokens returns the active cluster JWT
 func (c *Config) Tokens() *types.Tokens {
 	return c.Cluster.Tokens
diff --git a/cli/client/config/basic/reader_test.go b/cli/client/config/basic/reader_test.go
index bd6594e46b..05ceab150e 100644
--- a/cli/client/config/basic/reader_test.go
+++ b/cli/client/config/basic/reader_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package basic
 
 import (
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/sensu/sensu-go/cli/client/config"
 	"github.com/sensu/sensu-go/types"
@@ -33,6 +34,16 @@ func TestNamespaceDefault(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, config.DefaultNamespace, conf.Namespace())
 }
 
+func TestTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	conf := &Config{Cluster: Cluster{Timeout: 30 * time.Second}}
+	assert.Equal(t, conf.Cluster.Timeout, conf.Timeout())
+}
+
+func TestTimeoutDefault(t *testing.T) {
+	conf := &Config{}
+	assert.Equal(t, config.DefaultTimeout, conf.Timeout())
+}
+
 func TestTokens(t *testing.T) {
 	tokens := &types.Tokens{Access: "foobar"}
 	conf := &Config{Cluster: Cluster{Tokens: tokens}}
diff --git a/cli/client/config/basic/writer.go b/cli/client/config/basic/writer.go
index 859a7543fc..08ea6916e8 100644
--- a/cli/client/config/basic/writer.go
+++ b/cli/client/config/basic/writer.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/sensu/sensu-go/types"
 )
@@ -37,6 +38,13 @@ func (c *Config) SaveNamespace(namespace string) error {
 	return write(c.Profile, filepath.Join(c.path, profileFilename))
 }
 
+// SaveTimeout saves the user's timeout to a configuration file
+func (c *Config) SaveTimeout(timeout time.Duration) error {
+	c.Cluster.Timeout = timeout
+
+	return write(c.Cluster, filepath.Join(c.path, clusterFilename))
+}
+
 // SaveTokens saves the JWT into a configuration file
 func (c *Config) SaveTokens(tokens *types.Tokens) error {
 	// Update the configuration loaded in memory
diff --git a/cli/client/config/basic/writer_test.go b/cli/client/config/basic/writer_test.go
index 392f9d1d05..2d444c2d85 100644
--- a/cli/client/config/basic/writer_test.go
+++ b/cli/client/config/basic/writer_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/sensu/sensu-go/types"
 	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
@@ -75,6 +76,21 @@ func TestSaveNamespace(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, namespace, config.Namespace())
 }
 
+func TestSaveTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	dir, cleanup := tmpDir(t)
+	defer cleanup()
+
+	// Set flags
+	flags := pflag.NewFlagSet("config-dir", pflag.ContinueOnError)
+	flags.String("config-dir", dir, "")
+
+	config := Load(flags)
+
+	timeout := 30 * time.Second
+	require.NoError(t, config.SaveTimeout(timeout))
+	assert.Equal(t, timeout, config.Timeout())
+}
+
 func TestSaveTokens(t *testing.T) {
 	dir, cleanup := tmpDir(t)
 	defer cleanup()
diff --git a/cli/client/config/config.go b/cli/client/config/config.go
index 29c9079710..81f3a75886 100644
--- a/cli/client/config/config.go
+++ b/cli/client/config/config.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package config
 
 import (
+	"time"
+
 	"github.com/sensu/sensu-go/types"
 )
 
@@ -11,6 +13,9 @@ const (
 	// DefaultFormat is the default format output for printers.
 	DefaultFormat = FormatTabular
 
+	// DefaultTimeout is the default timeout
+	DefaultTimeout = 15 * time.Second
+
 	// FormatTabular indicates tabular format for printers.
 	FormatTabular = "tabular"
 
@@ -38,6 +43,7 @@ type Read interface {
 	InsecureSkipTLSVerify() bool
 	Namespace() string
 	Tokens() *types.Tokens
+	Timeout() time.Duration
 	TrustedCAFile() string
 }
 
@@ -49,4 +55,5 @@ type Write interface {
 	SaveNamespace(string) error
 	SaveTokens(*types.Tokens) error
 	SaveTrustedCAFile(string) error
+	SaveTimeout(time.Duration) error
 }
diff --git a/cli/client/config/inmemory/inmemory.go b/cli/client/config/inmemory/inmemory.go
index 91de9e5943..388eca92e2 100644
--- a/cli/client/config/inmemory/inmemory.go
+++ b/cli/client/config/inmemory/inmemory.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package inmemory
 
 import (
+	"time"
+
 	"github.com/sensu/sensu-go/cli/client/config"
 	"github.com/sensu/sensu-go/types"
 )
@@ -10,6 +12,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	url       string
 	format    string
 	namespace string
+	timeout   time.Duration
 	tokens    *types.Tokens
 }
 
@@ -39,6 +42,11 @@ func (c *Config) Namespace() string {
 	return c.namespace
 }
 
+// Timeout describes the timeout for communicating with the backend
+func (c *Config) Timeout() time.Duration {
+	return c.timeout
+}
+
 // Tokens describes the authorization tokens used to make requests
 func (c *Config) Tokens() *types.Tokens {
 	return c.tokens
@@ -62,6 +70,12 @@ func (c *Config) SaveNamespace(val string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// SaveTimeout updates the current timeout value
+func (c *Config) SaveTimeout(val time.Duration) error {
+	c.timeout = val
+	return nil
+}
+
 // SaveTokens updates the current value
 func (c *Config) SaveTokens(val *types.Tokens) error {
 	c.tokens = val
diff --git a/cli/client/config/mock.go b/cli/client/config/mock.go
index f3fc7da8eb..d0fe3cef75 100644
--- a/cli/client/config/mock.go
+++ b/cli/client/config/mock.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package config
 
 import (
+	"time"
+
 	corev2 "github.com/sensu/sensu-go/api/core/v2"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/mock"
@@ -38,6 +40,12 @@ func (m *MockConfig) Namespace() string {
 	return args.String(0)
 }
 
+// Timeout mocks the timeout config
+func (m *MockConfig) Timeout() time.Duration {
+	args := m.Called()
+	return args.Get(0).(time.Duration)
+}
+
 // TrustedCAFile mocks the trusted CA file config
 func (m *MockConfig) TrustedCAFile() string {
 	args := m.Called()
@@ -68,6 +76,12 @@ func (m *MockConfig) SaveNamespace(namespace string) error {
 	return args.Error(0)
 }
 
+// SaveTimeout mocks saving the timeout
+func (m *MockConfig) SaveTimeout(timeout time.Duration) error {
+	args := m.Called(timeout)
+	return args.Error(0)
+}
+
 // SaveTokens mocks saving the tokens
 func (m *MockConfig) SaveTokens(tokens *corev2.Tokens) error {
 	args := m.Called(tokens)
diff --git a/cli/client/testing/mock_config.go b/cli/client/testing/mock_config.go
index 4949bd30e6..745bd830d4 100644
--- a/cli/client/testing/mock_config.go
+++ b/cli/client/testing/mock_config.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package testing
 
 import (
+	"time"
+
 	"github.com/sensu/sensu-go/types"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/mock"
 )
@@ -43,6 +45,12 @@ func (m *MockConfig) TrustedCAFile() string {
 	return args.String(0)
 }
 
+// Timeout mocks the timeout config
+func (m *MockConfig) Timeout() time.Duration {
+	args := m.Called()
+	return args.Get(0).(time.Duration)
+}
+
 // SaveAPIUrl mocks saving the API URL
 func (m *MockConfig) SaveAPIUrl(url string) error {
 	args := m.Called(url)
@@ -67,6 +75,12 @@ func (m *MockConfig) SaveNamespace(namespace string) error {
 	return args.Error(0)
 }
 
+// SaveTimeout mocks saving the timeout
+func (m *MockConfig) SaveTimeout(timeout time.Duration) error {
+	args := m.Called(timeout)
+	return args.Error(0)
+}
+
 // SaveTokens mocks saving the tokens
 func (m *MockConfig) SaveTokens(tokens *types.Tokens) error {
 	args := m.Called(tokens)
diff --git a/cli/commands/config/help.go b/cli/commands/config/help.go
index 0ec4fd6564..e9ee2a3335 100644
--- a/cli/commands/config/help.go
+++ b/cli/commands/config/help.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ func HelpCommand(cli *cli.SensuCli) *cobra.Command {
 	cmd.AddCommand(
 		SetFormatCommand(cli),
 		SetNamespaceCommand(cli),
+		SetTimeoutCommand(cli),
 		ViewCommand(cli),
 	)
 
diff --git a/cli/commands/config/set_timeout.go b/cli/commands/config/set_timeout.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b8d1f135be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/commands/config/set_timeout.go
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/sensu/sensu-go/cli"
+	"github.com/sensu/sensu-go/cli/commands/hooks"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+)
+
+// SetTimeoutCommand given argument changes timeout for active profile
+func SetTimeoutCommand(cli *cli.SensuCli) *cobra.Command {
+	return &cobra.Command{
+		Use:          "set-timeout [TIMEOUT]",
+		Short:        "Set timeout for active profile in duration format (ex: 15s)",
+		SilenceUsage: true,
+		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			if len(args) != 1 {
+				_ = cmd.Help()
+				return errors.New("invalid argument(s) received")
+			}
+
+			newTimeout := args[0]
+			newTimeoutDuration, err := time.ParseDuration(newTimeout)
+			if err != nil {
+				fmt.Fprintf(
+					cmd.OutOrStderr(),
+					"Unable to parse new timeout with error: %s\n",
+					err,
+				)
+				return err
+			}
+			if err := cli.Config.SaveTimeout(newTimeoutDuration); err != nil {
+				fmt.Fprintf(
+					cmd.OutOrStderr(),
+					"Unable to write new configuration file with error: %s\n",
+					err,
+				)
+			}
+
+			fmt.Fprintln(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "Updated")
+			return nil
+		},
+		Annotations: map[string]string{
+			// We want to be able to run this command regardless of whether the CLI
+			// has been configured.
+			hooks.ConfigurationRequirement: hooks.ConfigurationNotRequired,
+		},
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cli/commands/config/set_timeout_test.go b/cli/commands/config/set_timeout_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..85504f1bde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/commands/config/set_timeout_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/sensu/sensu-go/cli"
+	clienttest "github.com/sensu/sensu-go/cli/client/testing"
+	test "github.com/sensu/sensu-go/cli/commands/testing"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestSetTimeoutCommand(t *testing.T) {
+	assert := assert.New(t)
+
+	cli := &cli.SensuCli{}
+	cmd := SetTimeoutCommand(cli)
+
+	assert.NotNil(cmd, "cmd should be returned")
+	assert.NotNil(cmd.RunE, "cmd should be able to be executed")
+	assert.Regexp("set-timeout", cmd.Use)
+	assert.Regexp("Set timeout", cmd.Short)
+}
+
+func TestSetTimeoutBadsArgs(t *testing.T) {
+	assert := assert.New(t)
+
+	cli := &cli.SensuCli{}
+	cmd := SetTimeoutCommand(cli)
+
+	// No args...
+	out, err := test.RunCmd(cmd, []string{})
+	assert.NotEmpty(out, "output should display help usage")
+	assert.Error(err, "error should be returned")
+
+	// Too many args...
+	out, err = test.RunCmd(cmd, []string{"one", "two"})
+	assert.NotEmpty(out, "output should display help usage")
+	assert.Error(err, "error should be returned")
+}
+
+func TestSetTimeoutExec(t *testing.T) {
+	assert := assert.New(t)
+
+	cli := test.NewMockCLI()
+	cmd := SetTimeoutCommand(cli)
+
+	config := cli.Config.(*clienttest.MockConfig)
+	config.On("SaveTimeout", 15*time.Second).Return(nil)
+
+	out, err := test.RunCmd(cmd, []string{"15s"})
+	assert.Equal(out, "Updated\n")
+	assert.Nil(err, "Should not produce any errors")
+}
+
+func TestSetTimeoutWithWriteErr(t *testing.T) {
+	assert := assert.New(t)
+
+	cli := test.NewMockCLI()
+	cmd := SetTimeoutCommand(cli)
+
+	config := cli.Config.(*clienttest.MockConfig)
+	config.On("SaveTimeout", 15*time.Second).Return(errors.New("blah"))
+
+	out, err := test.RunCmd(cmd, []string{"15s"})
+	assert.Contains(out, "Unable to write")
+	assert.Nil(err, "Should not return an error")
+}
diff --git a/cli/commands/config/view.go b/cli/commands/config/view.go
index 4f05c9c11b..7e1463cd96 100644
--- a/cli/commands/config/view.go
+++ b/cli/commands/config/view.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ func ViewCommand(cli *cli.SensuCli) *cobra.Command {
 				"api-url":        cli.Config.APIUrl(),
 				"namespace":      cli.Config.Namespace(),
 				"format":         cli.Config.Format(),
+				"timeout":        cli.Config.Timeout().String(),
 				"username":       helpers.GetCurrentUsername(cli.Config),
 				"jwt_expires_at": strconv.Itoa(int(cli.Config.Tokens().GetExpiresAt())),
 			}
@@ -70,6 +71,10 @@ func printToList(v interface{}, writer io.Writer) error {
 				Label: "Format",
 				Value: r["format"],
 			},
+			{
+				Label: "Timeout",
+				Value: r["timeout"],
+			},
 			{
 				Label: "Username",
 				Value: r["username"],
diff --git a/cli/commands/config/view_test.go b/cli/commands/config/view_test.go
index 01703cdd48..12ed9082bf 100644
--- a/cli/commands/config/view_test.go
+++ b/cli/commands/config/view_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package config
 
 import (
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	corev2 "github.com/sensu/sensu-go/api/core/v2"
 	clienttest "github.com/sensu/sensu-go/cli/client/testing"
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ func TestViewExec(t *testing.T) {
 	config.On("Tokens").Return(
 		corev2.FixtureTokens("eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJleHAiOjE1NjIxODkzMTcsImp0aSI6IjAwZDFlYTE2OGU1MTQ1ZGEzN2U2Njg0YmRlOTgwNDM4Iiwic3ViIjoiYWRtaW4iLCJncm91cHMiOlsiY2x1c3Rlci1hZG1pbnMiLCJzeXN0ZW06dXNlcnMiXSwicHJvdmlkZXIiOnsicHJvdmlkZXJfaWQiOiJiYXNpYyIsInVzZXJfaWQiOiJhZG1pbiJ9fQ.ksuMGCJtkN5724CQ7e2W1P7T2ZPpR8IxU3fH9WhBMLk", "eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJqdGkiOiI0MGVhYTRiMzRkMzU4YTkzNTY5YzIzZWM1YjcxNmZiMiIsInN1YiI6ImFkbWluIiwiZ3JvdXBzIjpudWxsLCJwcm92aWRlciI6eyJwcm92aWRlcl9pZCI6IiIsInVzZXJfaWQiOiIifX0.7t0qoBvKEkHD1DJbhP-VfSj95yhsFyrPoeFhqEbKOn8"),
 	)
+	config.On("Timeout").Return(time.Second * 15)
 
 	out, err := test.RunCmd(cmd, nil)
 	assert.Regexp("Active Configuration", out)
diff --git a/cli/commands/configure/configure.go b/cli/commands/configure/configure.go
index cd910be9e9..bbd6c62084 100644
--- a/cli/commands/configure/configure.go
+++ b/cli/commands/configure/configure.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package configure
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/AlecAivazis/survey"
 	"github.com/sensu/sensu-go/cli"
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ type configureAnswers struct {
 	Format                string `survey:"format"`
 	Namespace             string `survey:"namespace"`
 	InsecureSkipTLSVerify bool
+	Timeout               time.Duration
 	TrustedCAFile         string
 }
 
@@ -127,6 +129,24 @@ func Command(cli *cli.SensuCli) *cobra.Command {
 				}
 			}
 
+			if value, err := flags.GetString("timeout"); err == nil {
+				duration, err := time.ParseDuration(value)
+				if err != nil {
+					fmt.Fprintln(cmd.OutOrStderr())
+					return fmt.Errorf(
+						"unable to parse timeout with error: %s",
+						err,
+					)
+				}
+				if err = cli.Config.SaveTimeout(duration); err != nil {
+					fmt.Fprintln(cmd.OutOrStderr())
+					return fmt.Errorf(
+						"unable to write new configuration file with error: %s",
+						err,
+					)
+				}
+			}
+
 			return nil
 		},
 		Annotations: map[string]string{
@@ -142,6 +162,7 @@ func Command(cli *cli.SensuCli) *cobra.Command {
 	_ = cmd.Flags().StringP("password", "", "", "password")
 	_ = cmd.Flags().StringP("format", "", cli.Config.Format(), "preferred output format")
 	_ = cmd.Flags().StringP("namespace", "", cli.Config.Namespace(), "namespace")
+	_ = cmd.Flags().DurationP("timeout", "", cli.Config.Timeout(), "timeout when communicating with backend url")
 
 	return cmd
 }
@@ -164,6 +185,7 @@ func (answers *configureAnswers) withFlags(flags *pflag.FlagSet) {
 	answers.Password, _ = flags.GetString("password")
 	answers.Format, _ = flags.GetString("format")
 	answers.Namespace, _ = flags.GetString("namespace")
+	answers.Timeout, _ = flags.GetDuration("timeout")
 }
 
 func askForURL(c config.Config) *survey.Question {
diff --git a/cli/commands/configure/configure_test.go b/cli/commands/configure/configure_test.go
index 1cf90072b7..e8ebba8d27 100644
--- a/cli/commands/configure/configure_test.go
+++ b/cli/commands/configure/configure_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package configure
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/mock"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ func TestCommand(t *testing.T) {
 	mockConfig := cli.Config.(*client.MockConfig)
 	mockConfig.On("Format").Return(config.DefaultFormat)
 	mockConfig.On("APIUrl").Return("http://127.0.0.1:8080")
+	mockConfig.On("Timeout").Return(time.Second * 15)
 
 	cmd := Command(cli)
 
@@ -48,6 +50,7 @@ func TestCommandRunEClosureWithFlags(t *testing.T) {
 	mockConfig.On("SaveNamespace", mock.Anything).Return(nil)
 	mockConfig.On("SaveInsecureSkipTLSVerify", mock.Anything).Return(nil)
 	mockConfig.On("SaveTrustedCAFile", mock.Anything).Return(nil)
+	mockConfig.On("Timeout").Return(time.Second * 15)
 
 	// We need to call the "configure" command via the rootCmd so the global flags
 	// are set
diff --git a/cli/commands/root/root.go b/cli/commands/root/root.go
index c825e207e7..b93adc7781 100644
--- a/cli/commands/root/root.go
+++ b/cli/commands/root/root.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package root
 
 import (
+	"time"
+
 	"github.com/sensu/sensu-go/cli"
 	"github.com/sensu/sensu-go/cli/client/config"
 	"github.com/sensu/sensu-go/cli/commands/version"
@@ -32,6 +34,7 @@ func Command() *cobra.Command {
 	cmd.PersistentFlags().String("config-dir", path.UserConfigDir("sensuctl"), "path to directory containing configuration files")
 	cmd.PersistentFlags().String("cache-dir", path.UserCacheDir("sensuctl"), "path to directory containing cache & temporary files")
 	cmd.PersistentFlags().String("namespace", config.DefaultNamespace, "namespace in which we perform actions")
+	cmd.PersistentFlags().Duration("timeout", 15*time.Second, "timeout when communicating with sensu backend")
 
 	return cmd
 }