diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 2783640..b6e3a50 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ When in doubt, follow the pattern used by existing files in the same directory.
 | Feature | `feature/<short-description>` | `feature/add-snapmirror-example` |
 | Bug fix | `fix/<short-description>` | `fix/nfs-provision-timeout` |
 | Release | `release/<version>` | `release/0.2.0` |
-
+  
 The default branch is `main`. All PRs target `main`.
 
 ### Tags and releases
diff --git a/python/README.md b/python/README.md
index 7146da6..9b6c2b2 100644
--- a/python/README.md
+++ b/python/README.md
@@ -37,13 +37,14 @@ pip install -r requirements.txt
 All scripts read connection details from environment variables.
 
 > **Important:** The values below are placeholders for illustration only.
-> Replace `ONTAP_HOST`, `ONTAP_USER`, and `ONTAP_PASS` with your actual
+> Replace `ONTAP_HOST`, `ONTAP_USER`, `ONTAP_TIMEOUT` and `ONTAP_PASS` with your actual
 > cluster details before running any script.
 
 ```bash
 export ONTAP_HOST=10.0.0.1       # cluster management LIF
 export ONTAP_USER=admin           # default: admin
 export ONTAP_PASS=your_password
+export ONTAP_TIMEOUT=your_timeout
 ```
 
 Or use an env file:
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ Or use an env file:
 ONTAP_HOST=10.0.0.1
 ONTAP_USER=admin
 ONTAP_PASS=your_password
+ONTAP_TIMEOUT=your_timeout
 ```
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/python/ontap_client.py b/python/ontap_client.py
index 1f9e41e..16cd00b 100644
--- a/python/ontap_client.py
+++ b/python/ontap_client.py
@@ -79,10 +79,8 @@ def __init__(
         password: str,
         *,
         verify_ssl: bool = False,
-        timeout: int = _DEFAULT_TIMEOUT,
     ) -> None:
         self.base_url = f"https://{host}/api"
-        self.timeout = timeout
         self._session = requests.Session()
         self._session.auth = (username, password)
         self._session.verify = verify_ssl
@@ -112,6 +110,7 @@ def from_env(cls) -> OntapClient:
             ``ONTAP_USER`` (default ``admin``),
             ``ONTAP_VERIFY_SSL`` (default ``false``)
         """
+        timeout = int(os.environ.get("ONTAP_TIMEOUT",_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT))
         host = os.environ.get("ONTAP_HOST", "")
         if not host:
             logger.error("ONTAP_HOST environment variable is required")
@@ -126,6 +125,7 @@ def from_env(cls) -> OntapClient:
             username=os.environ.get("ONTAP_USER", "admin"),
             password=password,
             verify_ssl=os.environ.get("ONTAP_VERIFY_SSL", "false").lower() == "true",
+            timeout=timeout
         )
 
     # -- HTTP helpers -------------------------------------------------------