diff --git a/server/src/main/java/io/druid/guice/HttpClientModule.java b/server/src/main/java/io/druid/guice/HttpClientModule.java
index 8bf7c70b698..700aff7baee 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/io/druid/guice/HttpClientModule.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/io/druid/guice/HttpClientModule.java
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ public class HttpClientModule implements Module
     private int numConnections = 5;
 
     @JsonProperty
-    private Period readTimeout = null;
+    private Period readTimeout = new Period("PT5M");
 
     public int getNumConnections()
     {