diff --git a/client/influxdb.go b/client/influxdb.go
index fe66e934818..7740fb972ec 100644
--- a/client/influxdb.go
+++ b/client/influxdb.go
@@ -23,11 +23,13 @@ type Query struct {
 // URL: The URL of the server connecting to.
 // Username/Password are optional.  They will be passed via basic auth if provided.
 // UserAgent: If not provided, will default "InfluxDBClient",
+//Timeout: If not provided, will default to 0 (no timeout)
 type Config struct {
 	URL       url.URL
 	Username  string
 	Password  string
 	UserAgent string
+	Timeout   time.Duration
 }
 
 // Client is used to make calls to the server.
@@ -45,7 +47,7 @@ func NewClient(c Config) (*Client, error) {
 		url:        c.URL,
 		username:   c.Username,
 		password:   c.Password,
-		httpClient: http.DefaultClient,
+		httpClient: &http.Client{Timeout: c.Timeout},
 		userAgent:  c.UserAgent,
 	}
 	if client.userAgent == "" {
diff --git a/client/influxdb_test.go b/client/influxdb_test.go
index 857bb1dee96..901f0f44be4 100644
--- a/client/influxdb_test.go
+++ b/client/influxdb_test.go
@@ -427,3 +427,35 @@ func TestBatchPoints_Normal(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("failed to unmarshal nanosecond data: %s", err.Error())
 	}
 }
+
+func TestClient_Timeout(t *testing.T) {
+	ts := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		time.Sleep(1 * time.Second)
+		var data influxdb.Response
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+		_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(data)
+	}))
+	defer ts.Close()
+
+	u, _ := url.Parse(ts.URL)
+	config := client.Config{URL: *u, Timeout: 500 * time.Millisecond}
+	c, err := client.NewClient(config)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error.  expected %v, actual %v", nil, err)
+	}
+
+	query := client.Query{}
+	_, err = c.Query(query)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected success.  expected timeout error")
+	} else if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "use of closed network connection") {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error.  expected 'use of closed network connection' error, got %v", err)
+	}
+
+	confignotimeout := client.Config{URL: *u}
+	cnotimeout, err := client.NewClient(confignotimeout)
+	_, err = cnotimeout.Query(query)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error.  expected %v, actual %v", nil, err)
+	}
+}