diff --git a/fsspec/implementations/smb.py b/fsspec/implementations/smb.py
index 37949939e..867a58158 100644
--- a/fsspec/implementations/smb.py
+++ b/fsspec/implementations/smb.py
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ def __init__(
         timeout=60,
         encrypt=None,
         share_access=None,
+        register_session_retries=5,
         **kwargs,
     ):
         """
@@ -111,6 +112,7 @@ def __init__(
         self.encrypt = encrypt
         self.temppath = kwargs.pop("temppath", "")
         self.share_access = share_access
+        self.register_session_retries = register_session_retries
         self._connect()
 
     @property
@@ -120,7 +122,7 @@ def _port(self):
     def _connect(self):
         import time
 
-        for _ in range(5):
+        for _ in range(self.register_session_retries):
             try:
                 smbclient.register_session(
                     self.host,
diff --git a/fsspec/implementations/tests/test_smb.py b/fsspec/implementations/tests/test_smb.py
index da65127b0..9b2afcd0d 100644
--- a/fsspec/implementations/tests/test_smb.py
+++ b/fsspec/implementations/tests/test_smb.py
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ def smb_params(request):
             "port": request.param,
             "username": "testuser",
             "password": "testpass",
+            "register_session_retries": 100,  # max ~= 10 seconds
         }
     finally:
         import smbclient  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel