diff --git a/src/avalanche/processor.h b/src/avalanche/processor.h
--- a/src/avalanche/processor.h
+++ b/src/avalanche/processor.h
@@ -156,7 +156,8 @@
     std::unique_ptr<interfaces::Handler> chainNotificationsHandler;
 
     Processor(interfaces::Chain &chain, CConnman *connmanIn,
-              std::unique_ptr<PeerData> peerDataIn, CKey sessionKeyIn);
+              std::unique_ptr<PeerData> peerDataIn, CKey sessionKeyIn,
+              std::chrono::milliseconds queryTimeoutDurationIn);
 
 public:
     ~Processor();
diff --git a/src/avalanche/processor.cpp b/src/avalanche/processor.cpp
--- a/src/avalanche/processor.cpp
+++ b/src/avalanche/processor.cpp
@@ -130,8 +130,9 @@
 };
 
 Processor::Processor(interfaces::Chain &chain, CConnman *connmanIn,
-                     std::unique_ptr<PeerData> peerDataIn, CKey sessionKeyIn)
-    : connman(connmanIn), queryTimeoutDuration(AVALANCHE_DEFAULT_QUERY_TIMEOUT),
+                     std::unique_ptr<PeerData> peerDataIn, CKey sessionKeyIn,
+                     std::chrono::milliseconds queryTimeoutDurationIn)
+    : connman(connmanIn), queryTimeoutDuration(queryTimeoutDurationIn),
       round(0), peerManager(std::make_unique<PeerManager>()),
       peerData(std::move(peerDataIn)), sessionKey(std::move(sessionKeyIn)) {
     // Make sure we get notified of chain state changes.
@@ -238,9 +239,14 @@
         }
     }
 
+    std::chrono::milliseconds queryTimeout = std::chrono::milliseconds{
+        gArgs.GetArg("-avaquerytimeout",
+                     count_microseconds(AVALANCHE_DEFAULT_QUERY_TIMEOUT))};
+
     // We can't use std::make_unique with a private constructor
-    return std::unique_ptr<Processor>(new Processor(
-        chain, connman, std::move(peerData), std::move(sessionKey)));
+    return std::unique_ptr<Processor>(
+        new Processor(chain, connman, std::move(peerData),
+                      std::move(sessionKey), queryTimeout));
 }
 
 bool Processor::addBlockToReconcile(const CBlockIndex *pindex) {
diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -1325,6 +1325,12 @@
                    strprintf("Enable avalanche proof replacement (default: %u)",
                              AVALANCHE_DEFAULT_PROOF_REPLACEMENT_ENABLED),
                    ArgsManager::ALLOW_BOOL, OptionsCategory::AVALANCHE);
+    argsman.AddArg(
+        "-avaquerytimeout",
+        strprintf(
+            "Number of milliseconds before timing out a poll (default: %u)",
+            count_milliseconds(AVALANCHE_DEFAULT_QUERY_TIMEOUT)),
+        ArgsManager::ALLOW_ANY, OptionsCategory::AVALANCHE);
     argsman.AddArg(
         "-avacooldown",
         strprintf("Mandatory cooldown between two avapoll (default: %u)",