diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 76f95d2..5a4690f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ hardcoded default**.
 | `--parity` | `MYTHY_PARITY` | `N` | RTU parity: `N`, `E`, or `O` |
 | `--stopbits` | `MYTHY_STOPBITS` | `1` | RTU stop bits |
 | `--unit-id` | `MYTHY_UNIT_ID` | `1` | Modbus unit ID |
-| `--request-timeout` | `MYTHY_REQUEST_TIMEOUT` | `2s` | per-request timeout |
+| `--request-timeout` | `MYTHY_REQUEST_TIMEOUT` | `10s` | per-request timeout |
 | `--connect-timeout` | `MYTHY_CONNECT_TIMEOUT` | `5s` | TCP connect timeout |
 | `--retries` | `MYTHY_RETRIES` | `2` | transient-error retries on reads (writes never retry) |
 | `--transport` | `MYTHY_TRANSPORT` | – | force `tcp` or `rtu`; auto-detected from `--host`/`--serial` |
diff --git a/cmd/mythy/connection.go b/cmd/mythy/connection.go
index a260cff..764d7e9 100644
--- a/cmd/mythy/connection.go
+++ b/cmd/mythy/connection.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func (c *connFlags) bind(cmd *cobra.Command) {
 		"RTU stop bits: 1 or 2 (or set MYTHY_STOPBITS)")
 	f.Uint8Var(&c.unitID, "unit-id", envOrUint8("MYTHY_UNIT_ID", 1),
 		"Modbus unit ID (default 1; or set MYTHY_UNIT_ID)")
-	f.DurationVar(&c.timeout, "request-timeout", envOrDuration("MYTHY_REQUEST_TIMEOUT", 2*time.Second),
+	f.DurationVar(&c.timeout, "request-timeout", envOrDuration("MYTHY_REQUEST_TIMEOUT", 10*time.Second),
 		"per-request timeout (or set MYTHY_REQUEST_TIMEOUT)")
 	f.DurationVar(&c.connTimeout, "connect-timeout", envOrDuration("MYTHY_CONNECT_TIMEOUT", 5*time.Second),
 		"TCP connect timeout (or set MYTHY_CONNECT_TIMEOUT)")
diff --git a/pkg/transport/rtu.go b/pkg/transport/rtu.go
index bfc4dd9..b1747ee 100644
--- a/pkg/transport/rtu.go
+++ b/pkg/transport/rtu.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ func NewRTUClient(opts Options) *RTUClient {
 		opts.StopBits = 1
 	}
 	if opts.RequestTimeout == 0 {
-		opts.RequestTimeout = 2 * time.Second
+		opts.RequestTimeout = 10 * time.Second
 	}
 	return &RTUClient{opts: opts}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/transport/tcp.go b/pkg/transport/tcp.go
index 80fe7bc..190a1d7 100644
--- a/pkg/transport/tcp.go
+++ b/pkg/transport/tcp.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ func NewTCPClient(opts Options) *TCPClient {
 		opts.Port = 502
 	}
 	if opts.RequestTimeout == 0 {
-		opts.RequestTimeout = 2 * time.Second
+		opts.RequestTimeout = 10 * time.Second
 	}
 	if opts.ConnectTimeout == 0 {
 		opts.ConnectTimeout = 5 * time.Second