diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b96609b..c877914 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ python run_tests.py --profile core -p 4
 |----------|-------------|----------|
 | `VECTARA_API_KEY` | Personal API key | Yes |
 | `VECTARA_BASE_URL` | API URL (default: `https://api.vectara.io`) | No |
-| `VECTARA_TIMEOUT` | Request timeout in seconds (default: 30) | No |
+| `VECTARA_TIMEOUT` | Request timeout in seconds (default: 60) | No |
 | `VECTARA_LLM_NAME` | LLM model name for generation | No |
 | `VECTARA_GENERATION_PRESET` | Generation preset name | No |
 | `OPENAI_API_KEY` | OpenAI key for BYOL LLM tests (regression only) | No |
diff --git a/utils/config.py b/utils/config.py
index ab94ce9..4e1c30a 100644
--- a/utils/config.py
+++ b/utils/config.py
@@ -27,8 +27,13 @@ def base_url(self) -> str:
 
     @property
     def request_timeout(self) -> int:
-        """Get request timeout in seconds."""
-        return int(os.environ.get("VECTARA_TIMEOUT", "30"))
+        """Get request timeout in seconds.
+
+        Default 60s — agent execution involves LLM generation which routinely
+        runs > 30s in staging; matches the explicit budget asserted by
+        test_execute_agent_response_time.
+        """
+        return int(os.environ.get("VECTARA_TIMEOUT", "60"))
 
     @property
     def max_retries(self) -> int: