diff --git a/api/apiconfig/config.go b/api/apiconfig/config.go
index 15dbbfca02..dd5ec1d650 100644
--- a/api/apiconfig/config.go
+++ b/api/apiconfig/config.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ package apiconfig
 
 import (
 	"crypto/x509"
+	"time"
 
 	bccspFactory "github.com/hyperledger/fabric/bccsp/factory"
 )
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ type Config interface {
 	CAServerCertFiles(org string) ([]string, error)
 	CAClientKeyFile(org string) (string, error)
 	CAClientCertFile(org string) (string, error)
+	TimeoutOrDefault(ConnectionType) time.Duration
 	MspID(org string) (string, error)
 	OrderersConfig() ([]OrdererConfig, error)
 	RandomOrdererConfig() (*OrdererConfig, error)
@@ -37,3 +39,17 @@ type Config interface {
 	CryptoConfigPath() string
 	CSPConfig() *bccspFactory.FactoryOpts
 }
+
+// ConnectionType enumerates the different types of outgoing connections
+type ConnectionType int
+
+const (
+	// Endorser connection
+	Endorser ConnectionType = iota
+	// EventHub connection
+	EventHub
+	// EventReg connection
+	EventReg
+	// Orderer connection
+	Orderer
+)
diff --git a/api/apiconfig/mocks/mockconfig.gen.go b/api/apiconfig/mocks/mockconfig.gen.go
index 9df38c6a99..b53c760331 100644
--- a/api/apiconfig/mocks/mockconfig.gen.go
+++ b/api/apiconfig/mocks/mockconfig.gen.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	gomock "github.com/golang/mock/gomock"
 	apiconfig "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apiconfig"
 	factory "github.com/hyperledger/fabric/bccsp/factory"
+	time "time"
 )
 
 // MockConfig is a mock of Config interface
@@ -306,3 +307,15 @@ func (_m *MockConfig) TcertBatchSize() int {
 func (_mr *MockConfigMockRecorder) TcertBatchSize() *gomock.Call {
 	return _mr.mock.ctrl.RecordCall(_mr.mock, "TcertBatchSize")
 }
+
+// TimeoutOrDefault mocks base method
+func (_m *MockConfig) TimeoutOrDefault(_param0 apiconfig.ConnectionType) time.Duration {
+	ret := _m.ctrl.Call(_m, "TimeoutOrDefault", _param0)
+	ret0, _ := ret[0].(time.Duration)
+	return ret0
+}
+
+// TimeoutOrDefault indicates an expected call of TimeoutOrDefault
+func (_mr *MockConfigMockRecorder) TimeoutOrDefault(arg0 interface{}) *gomock.Call {
+	return _mr.mock.ctrl.RecordCall(_mr.mock, "TimeoutOrDefault", arg0)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/config/config.go b/pkg/config/config.go
index 35186c569e..7a073f4791 100644
--- a/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -30,7 +30,10 @@ var format = logging.MustStringFormatter(
 	`%{color}%{time:15:04:05.000} [%{module}] %{level:.4s} : %{color:reset} %{message}`,
 )
 
-const cmdRoot = "fabric_sdk"
+const (
+	cmdRoot        = "fabric_sdk"
+	defaultTimeout = time.Second * 5
+)
 
 // Config represents the configuration for the client
 type Config struct {
@@ -133,6 +136,26 @@ func (c *Config) CAClientCertFile(org string) (string, error) {
 		"$GOPATH", os.Getenv("GOPATH"), -1), nil
 }
 
+// TimeoutOrDefault reads connection timeouts for the given connection type
+func (c *Config) TimeoutOrDefault(conn apiconfig.ConnectionType) time.Duration {
+	var timeout time.Duration
+	switch conn {
+	case apiconfig.Endorser:
+		timeout = myViper.GetDuration("connection.timeout.peer.endorser")
+	case apiconfig.EventHub:
+		timeout = myViper.GetDuration("connection.timeout.peer.eventhub")
+	case apiconfig.EventReg:
+		timeout = myViper.GetDuration("connection.timeout.peer.eventreg")
+	case apiconfig.Orderer:
+		timeout = myViper.GetDuration("connection.timeout.orderer")
+	}
+	if timeout == 0 {
+		timeout = defaultTimeout
+	}
+
+	return timeout
+}
+
 // MspID returns the MSP ID for the requested organization
 func (c *Config) MspID(org string) (string, error) {
 	config, err := c.NetworkConfig()
diff --git a/pkg/config/config_test.go b/pkg/config/config_test.go
index 0a2eb9154c..62fba6a829 100644
--- a/pkg/config/config_test.go
+++ b/pkg/config/config_test.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	api "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apiconfig"
 	"github.com/spf13/viper"
@@ -208,6 +209,36 @@ func TestTLSACAConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestTimeouts(t *testing.T) {
+	myViper.Set("connection.timeout.peer.endorser", "2s")
+	myViper.Set("connection.timeout.peer.eventhub", "2m")
+	myViper.Set("connection.timeout.peer.eventreg", "2h")
+	myViper.Set("connection.timeout.orderer", "2ms")
+
+	t1 := configImpl.TimeoutOrDefault(api.Endorser)
+	if t1 != time.Second*2 {
+		t.Fatalf("Timeout not read correctly. Got: %s", t1)
+	}
+	t2 := configImpl.TimeoutOrDefault(api.EventHub)
+	if t2 != time.Minute*2 {
+		t.Fatalf("Timeout not read correctly. Got: %s", t2)
+	}
+	t3 := configImpl.TimeoutOrDefault(api.EventReg)
+	if t3 != time.Hour*2 {
+		t.Fatalf("Timeout not read correctly. Got: %s", t3)
+	}
+	t4 := configImpl.TimeoutOrDefault(api.Orderer)
+	if t4 != time.Millisecond*2 {
+		t.Fatalf("Timeout not read correctly. Got: %s", t4)
+	}
+	// Test default
+	myViper.Set("connection.timeout.orderer", "")
+	t5 := configImpl.TimeoutOrDefault(api.Orderer)
+	if t5 != time.Second*5 {
+		t.Fatalf("Timeout not read correctly. Got: %s", t5)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestOrdererConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	oConfig, err := configImpl.RandomOrdererConfig()
 
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-ca-client/mocks/mockconfig.go b/pkg/fabric-ca-client/mocks/mockconfig.go
index 211ccc0638..2a824e96e1 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-ca-client/mocks/mockconfig.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-ca-client/mocks/mockconfig.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ package mocks
 
 import (
 	"crypto/x509"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apiconfig"
 
@@ -51,6 +52,11 @@ func (c *MockConfig) FabricClientViper() *viper.Viper {
 	return nil
 }
 
+//TimeoutOrDefault not implemented
+func (c *MockConfig) TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.ConnectionType) time.Duration {
+	return 0
+}
+
 // PeersConfig Retrieves the fabric peers from the config file provided
 func (c *MockConfig) PeersConfig(org string) ([]apiconfig.PeerConfig, error) {
 	return nil, nil
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-client/events/consumer/consumer.go b/pkg/fabric-client/events/consumer/consumer.go
index dfc5d3eac4..b2cfb0b3f9 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-client/events/consumer/consumer.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-client/events/consumer/consumer.go
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ func NewEventsClient(client fab.FabricClient, peerAddress string, certificate st
 //newEventsClientConnectionWithAddress Returns a new grpc.ClientConn to the configured local PEER.
 func newEventsClientConnectionWithAddress(peerAddress string, certificate string, serverhostoverride string, config apiconfig.Config) (*grpc.ClientConn, error) {
 	var opts []grpc.DialOption
-	opts = append(opts, grpc.WithTimeout(time.Second*3))
+	opts = append(opts, grpc.WithTimeout(config.TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.EventHub)))
 	if config.IsTLSEnabled() {
 		tlsCaCertPool, err := config.TLSCACertPool(certificate)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-client/events/eventhub.go b/pkg/fabric-client/events/eventhub.go
index 6913904308..88ce052495 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-client/events/eventhub.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-client/events/eventhub.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/golang/protobuf/proto"
+	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apiconfig"
 	fab "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apifabclient"
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apitxn"
 	consumer "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/events/consumer"
@@ -245,7 +246,9 @@ func (eventHub *EventHub) Connect() error {
 	}
 
 	if eventHub.grpcClient == nil {
-		eventsClient, _ := eventHub.eventsClientFactory.newEventsClient(eventHub.client, eventHub.peerAddr, eventHub.peerTLSCertificate, eventHub.peerTLSServerHostOverride, 5, eventHub)
+		eventsClient, _ := eventHub.eventsClientFactory.newEventsClient(eventHub.client,
+			eventHub.peerAddr, eventHub.peerTLSCertificate, eventHub.peerTLSServerHostOverride,
+			eventHub.client.Config().TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.EventReg), eventHub)
 		eventHub.grpcClient = eventsClient
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-client/mocks/mockconfig.go b/pkg/fabric-client/mocks/mockconfig.go
index 5b0f9da4e8..f23058da26 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-client/mocks/mockconfig.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-client/mocks/mockconfig.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ package mocks
 
 import (
 	"crypto/x509"
+	"time"
 
 	config "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apiconfig"
 
@@ -53,6 +54,11 @@ func (c *MockConfig) CAClientCertFile(org string) (string, error) {
 	return "", nil
 }
 
+//TimeoutOrDefault not implemented
+func (c *MockConfig) TimeoutOrDefault(config.ConnectionType) time.Duration {
+	return 0
+}
+
 // FabricClientViper returns the internal viper instance used by the
 // SDK to read configuration options
 func (c *MockConfig) FabricClientViper() *viper.Viper {
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-client/orderer/orderer.go b/pkg/fabric-client/orderer/orderer.go
index e135e4f392..34b43045c4 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-client/orderer/orderer.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-client/orderer/orderer.go
@@ -8,9 +8,8 @@ package orderer
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"time"
 
-	config "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apiconfig"
+	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apiconfig"
 	fab "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apifabclient"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc/credentials"
 
@@ -30,9 +29,9 @@ type Orderer struct {
 }
 
 // NewOrderer Returns a Orderer instance
-func NewOrderer(url string, certificate string, serverHostOverride string, config config.Config) (*Orderer, error) {
+func NewOrderer(url string, certificate string, serverHostOverride string, config apiconfig.Config) (*Orderer, error) {
 	var opts []grpc.DialOption
-	opts = append(opts, grpc.WithTimeout(time.Second*3))
+	opts = append(opts, grpc.WithTimeout(config.TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.Orderer)))
 	if config.IsTLSEnabled() {
 		tlsCaCertPool, err := config.TLSCACertPool(certificate)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-client/peer/peer.go b/pkg/fabric-client/peer/peer.go
index 93addf47c4..921db98feb 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-client/peer/peer.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-client/peer/peer.go
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ package peer
 
 import (
 	"encoding/pem"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apiconfig"
 	fab "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apifabclient"
@@ -19,7 +18,6 @@ import (
 var logger = logging.MustGetLogger("fabric_sdk_go")
 
 const (
-	connTimeout  = time.Second * 10 // TODO: should be configurable
 	connBlocking = true
 )
 
@@ -40,7 +38,7 @@ type Peer struct {
 // serverNameOverride is passed to NewClientTLSFromCert in grpc/credentials.
 func NewPeerTLSFromCert(url string, certificate string, serverHostOverride string, config apiconfig.Config) (*Peer, error) {
 	// TODO: config is declaring TLS but cert & serverHostOverride is being passed-in...
-	conn, err := newPeerEndorser(url, certificate, serverHostOverride, connTimeout, connBlocking, config)
+	conn, err := newPeerEndorser(url, certificate, serverHostOverride, connBlocking, config)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -51,7 +49,7 @@ func NewPeerTLSFromCert(url string, certificate string, serverHostOverride strin
 // NewPeer constructs a Peer given its endpoint configuration settings.
 // url is the URL with format of "host:port".
 func NewPeer(url string, config apiconfig.Config) (*Peer, error) {
-	conn, err := newPeerEndorser(url, "", "", connTimeout, connBlocking, config)
+	conn, err := newPeerEndorser(url, "", "", connBlocking, config)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-client/peer/peer_test.go b/pkg/fabric-client/peer/peer_test.go
index 07ae0f1a1c..251ee5fcc6 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-client/peer/peer_test.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-client/peer/peer_test.go
@@ -12,8 +12,10 @@ import (
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"reflect"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/golang/mock/gomock"
+	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apiconfig"
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apiconfig/mocks"
 	fab "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apifabclient"
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apitxn"
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@ func TestNewPeerWithCertNoTLS(t *testing.T) {
 	defer mockCtrl.Finish()
 	config := mock_apiconfig.NewMockConfig(mockCtrl)
 	config.EXPECT().IsTLSEnabled().Return(false)
+	config.EXPECT().TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.Endorser).Return(time.Second * 5)
 
 	url := "http://example.com"
 	p, err := NewPeer("http://example.com", config)
@@ -49,6 +52,7 @@ func TestNewPeerTLSFromCert(t *testing.T) {
 	config.EXPECT().IsTLSEnabled().Return(true)
 	config.EXPECT().TLSCACertPool("cert").Return(certPool, nil)
 	config.EXPECT().TLSCACertPool("").Return(certPool, nil)
+	config.EXPECT().TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.Endorser).Return(time.Second * 5)
 
 	url := "0.0.0.0:1234"
 	// TODO - test actual parameters and test server name override
@@ -80,6 +84,7 @@ func TestNewPeerTLSFromCertBad(t *testing.T) {
 
 	config.EXPECT().IsTLSEnabled().Return(true)
 	config.EXPECT().TLSCACertPool("").Return(x509.NewCertPool(), nil)
+	config.EXPECT().TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.Endorser).Return(time.Second * 5)
 
 	url := "0.0.0.0:1234"
 	_, err := NewPeerTLSFromCert(url, "", "", config)
@@ -95,6 +100,7 @@ func TestEnrollmentCert(t *testing.T) {
 	defer mockCtrl.Finish()
 	config := mock_apiconfig.NewMockConfig(mockCtrl)
 	config.EXPECT().IsTLSEnabled().Return(false)
+	config.EXPECT().TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.Endorser).Return(time.Second * 5)
 
 	peer, err := NewPeer(peer1URL, config)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -125,6 +131,7 @@ func TestRoles(t *testing.T) {
 	defer mockCtrl.Finish()
 	config := mock_apiconfig.NewMockConfig(mockCtrl)
 	config.EXPECT().IsTLSEnabled().Return(false)
+	config.EXPECT().TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.Endorser).Return(time.Second * 5)
 
 	peer, err := NewPeer(peer1URL, config)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -151,6 +158,7 @@ func TestNames(t *testing.T) {
 	defer mockCtrl.Finish()
 	config := mock_apiconfig.NewMockConfig(mockCtrl)
 	config.EXPECT().IsTLSEnabled().Return(false)
+	config.EXPECT().TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.Endorser).Return(time.Second * 5)
 
 	peer, err := NewPeer(peer1URL, config)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -174,6 +182,7 @@ func TestMSPIDs(t *testing.T) {
 	defer mockCtrl.Finish()
 	config := mock_apiconfig.NewMockConfig(mockCtrl)
 	config.EXPECT().IsTLSEnabled().Return(false)
+	config.EXPECT().TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.Endorser).Return(time.Second * 5)
 
 	peer, err := NewPeer(peer1URL, config)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -212,6 +221,7 @@ func TestPlaceholders(t *testing.T) {
 	defer mockCtrl.Finish()
 	config := mock_apiconfig.NewMockConfig(mockCtrl)
 	config.EXPECT().IsTLSEnabled().Return(false)
+	config.EXPECT().TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.Endorser).Return(time.Second * 5)
 
 	peer, err := NewPeer(peer1URL, config)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -239,6 +249,7 @@ func TestPeersToTxnProcessors(t *testing.T) {
 	defer mockCtrl.Finish()
 	config := mock_apiconfig.NewMockConfig(mockCtrl)
 	config.EXPECT().IsTLSEnabled().Return(false)
+	config.EXPECT().TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.Endorser).Return(time.Second * 5)
 
 	peer1, err := NewPeer(peer1URL, config)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -246,6 +257,7 @@ func TestPeersToTxnProcessors(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	config.EXPECT().IsTLSEnabled().Return(false)
+	config.EXPECT().TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.Endorser).Return(time.Second * 5)
 	peer2, err := NewPeer(peer2URL, config)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to create NewPeer error(%v)", err)
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-client/peer/peerendorser.go b/pkg/fabric-client/peer/peerendorser.go
index 8298a12596..508ace9c5b 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-client/peer/peerendorser.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-client/peer/peerendorser.go
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ package peer
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apiconfig"
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apitxn"
@@ -31,15 +30,17 @@ type TransactionProposalError struct {
 	Err      error
 }
 
-func newPeerEndorser(target string, certificate string, serverHostOverride string, dialTimeout time.Duration, dialBlocking bool, config apiconfig.Config) (peerEndorser, error) {
+func newPeerEndorser(target string, certificate string, serverHostOverride string,
+	dialBlocking bool, config apiconfig.Config) (
+	peerEndorser, error) {
 	if len(target) == 0 {
 		return peerEndorser{}, fmt.Errorf("Target is required")
 	}
 
 	// Construct dialer options for the connection
 	var opts []grpc.DialOption
-	opts = append(opts, grpc.WithTimeout(dialTimeout)) // TODO: should be configurable
-	if dialBlocking {                                  // TODO: configurable?
+	opts = append(opts, grpc.WithTimeout(config.TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.Endorser)))
+	if dialBlocking { // TODO: configurable?
 		opts = append(opts, grpc.WithBlock())
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-client/peer/peerendorser_test.go b/pkg/fabric-client/peer/peerendorser_test.go
index f3df3e9bc4..4aa215c08b 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-client/peer/peerendorser_test.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-client/peer/peerendorser_test.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"
 
 	"github.com/golang/mock/gomock"
+	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apiconfig"
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apiconfig/mocks"
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apitxn"
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/mocks"
@@ -44,8 +45,9 @@ func TestNewPeerEndorserTLS(t *testing.T) {
 	config.EXPECT().IsTLSEnabled().Return(true)
 	config.EXPECT().TLSCACertPool("cert").Return(certPool, nil)
 	config.EXPECT().TLSCACertPool("").Return(certPool, nil)
+	config.EXPECT().TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.Endorser).Return(time.Second * 5)
 
-	conn, err := newPeerEndorser(url, "cert", "", connTimeout, true, config)
+	conn, err := newPeerEndorser(url, "cert", "", true, config)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Peer conn should be constructed")
 	}
@@ -73,8 +75,9 @@ func TestNewPeerEndorserTLSBadPool(t *testing.T) {
 	config.EXPECT().IsTLSEnabled().Return(true)
 	config.EXPECT().TLSCACertPool("").Return(certPool, nil)
 	config.EXPECT().TLSCACertPool("cert").Return(certPool, fmt.Errorf("ohoh"))
+	config.EXPECT().TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.Endorser).Return(time.Second * 5)
 
-	_, err := newPeerEndorser(url, "cert", "", connTimeout, true, config)
+	_, err := newPeerEndorser(url, "cert", "", true, config)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Peer conn construction should have failed")
 	}
@@ -89,8 +92,9 @@ func TestNewPeerEndorserNoTLS(t *testing.T) {
 
 	url := "0.0.0.0:1234"
 	config.EXPECT().IsTLSEnabled().Return(false)
+	config.EXPECT().TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.Endorser).Return(time.Second * 5)
 
-	conn, err := newPeerEndorser(url, "", "", connTimeout, true, config)
+	conn, err := newPeerEndorser(url, "", "", true, config)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Peer conn should be constructed")
 	}
@@ -119,8 +123,9 @@ func TestNewPeerEndorserBlocking(t *testing.T) {
 
 	url := "0.0.0.0:1234"
 	config.EXPECT().IsTLSEnabled().Return(false)
+	config.EXPECT().TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.Endorser).Return(time.Second * 5)
 
-	conn, err := newPeerEndorser(url, "", "", connTimeout, true, config)
+	conn, err := newPeerEndorser(url, "", "", true, config)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Peer conn should be constructed")
 	}
@@ -149,8 +154,9 @@ func TestNewPeerEndorserNonBlocking(t *testing.T) {
 
 	url := "0.0.0.0:1234"
 	config.EXPECT().IsTLSEnabled().Return(false)
+	config.EXPECT().TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.Endorser).Return(time.Second * 5)
 
-	conn, err := newPeerEndorser(url, "", "", connTimeout, false, config)
+	conn, err := newPeerEndorser(url, "", "", false, config)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Peer conn should be constructed")
 	}
@@ -173,7 +179,7 @@ func TestNewPeerEndorserBadParams(t *testing.T) {
 	config := mock_apiconfig.NewMockConfig(mockCtrl)
 
 	url := ""
-	_, err := newPeerEndorser(url, "", "", connTimeout, true, config)
+	_, err := newPeerEndorser(url, "", "", true, config)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Peer conn should not be constructed - bad params")
 	}
@@ -189,8 +195,9 @@ func TestNewPeerEndorserTLSBad(t *testing.T) {
 	url := "0.0.0.0:1234"
 	config.EXPECT().IsTLSEnabled().Return(true)
 	config.EXPECT().TLSCACertPool("").Return(x509.NewCertPool(), nil)
+	config.EXPECT().TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.Endorser).Return(time.Second * 5)
 
-	_, err := newPeerEndorser(url, "", "", connTimeout, true, config)
+	_, err := newPeerEndorser(url, "", "", true, config)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Peer conn should not be constructed - bad cert pool")
 	}
@@ -199,7 +206,7 @@ func TestNewPeerEndorserTLSBad(t *testing.T) {
 // TestProcessProposalBadDial validates that a down
 // endorser fails gracefully.
 func TestProcessProposalBadDial(t *testing.T) {
-	_, err := testProcessProposal(t, testAddress, time.Millisecond*10)
+	_, err := testProcessProposal(t, testAddress)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Process proposal should have failed")
 	}
@@ -212,20 +219,21 @@ func TestProcessProposalGoodDial(t *testing.T) {
 	defer grpcServer.Stop()
 	_, addr := startEndorserServer(t, grpcServer)
 
-	_, err := testProcessProposal(t, addr, connTimeout)
+	_, err := testProcessProposal(t, addr)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Process proposal failed (%v)", err)
 	}
 }
 
-func testProcessProposal(t *testing.T, url string, to time.Duration) (apitxn.TransactionProposalResult, error) {
+func testProcessProposal(t *testing.T, url string) (apitxn.TransactionProposalResult, error) {
 	mockCtrl := gomock.NewController(t)
 	defer mockCtrl.Finish()
 	config := mock_apiconfig.NewMockConfig(mockCtrl)
 
 	config.EXPECT().IsTLSEnabled().Return(false)
+	config.EXPECT().TimeoutOrDefault(apiconfig.Endorser).Return(time.Second * 5)
 
-	conn, err := newPeerEndorser(url, "", "", to, true, config)
+	conn, err := newPeerEndorser(url, "", "", true, config)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Peer conn construction error (%v)", err)
 	}
diff --git a/test/fixtures/config/config_test.yaml b/test/fixtures/config/config_test.yaml
index eecb2d48b0..0b6af2515f 100755
--- a/test/fixtures/config/config_test.yaml
+++ b/test/fixtures/config/config_test.yaml
@@ -25,6 +25,14 @@ client:
  cryptoconfig:
   path: "$GOPATH/src/github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/test/fixtures/channel/crypto-config"
 
+ connection:
+   timeout:
+    peer:
+     endorser: 3s
+     eventHub: 3s
+     eventReg: 3s
+    orderer: 3s
+
 # network provides a static definition of a Hyperledger Fabric network
  network:
   # list of ordering service nodes