diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9cc5038..4dba663 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -76,6 +76,9 @@ The following settings are additionally recognised:
 
 Note that these settings do not accept models that are defined as subclasses through [multi-table inheritance](https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/stable/topics/db/models/#multi-table-inheritance) - in particular, they cannot be used to define behaviour that only applies to specific subclasses of Page.
 
+* `WAGTAILTRANSFER_CHOOSER_API_PROXY_TIMEOUT = 5`
+
+  By default, each API call made to browse the page tree on the source server has a timeout limit of 5 seconds. If you find this threshold is too low, you can increase it. This may be of particular use if you are running two local runservers to test or extend Wagtail Transfer.
 
 ## Management commands
 
diff --git a/docs/settings.md b/docs/settings.md
index af66ee1..104c415 100644
--- a/docs/settings.md
+++ b/docs/settings.md
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ that object will end up with unresolved references, to be handled by the same se
 Note that these settings do not accept models that are defined as subclasses through multi-table inheritance - in 
 particular, they cannot be used to define behaviour that only applies to specific subclasses of Page.
 
+
 ### `WAGTAILTRANSFER_FOLLOWED_REVERSE_RELATIONS`
 
 ```python
@@ -100,6 +101,16 @@ encountering that model and relation, Wagtail Transfer will follow the reverse r
 if `True`, will delete any models in the reverse relation on the destination site that do not exist in the source site's reverse relation. As a result,
 it should only be used for models that behave strictly like child models but do not use `ParentalKey` - for example, tags, where importing an image with deleted tags should delete those tag linking models on the destination site as well.
 
+
+### `WAGTAILTRANSFER_CHOOSER_API_PROXY_TIMEOUT`
+
+```python
+WAGTAILTRANSFER_CHOOSER_API_PROXY_TIMEOUT = 5
+```
+
+  By default, each API call made to browse the page tree on the source server has a timeout limit of 5 seconds. If you find this threshold is too low, you can increase it. This may be of particular use if you are running two local runservers to test or extend Wagtail Transfer.
+
+
 ## Hooks
 
 ### `register_field_adapters`
diff --git a/wagtail_transfer/views.py b/wagtail_transfer/views.py
index db38f84..0ee85ac 100644
--- a/wagtail_transfer/views.py
+++ b/wagtail_transfer/views.py
@@ -183,6 +183,8 @@ class PageChooserAPIViewSet(PagesAdminAPIViewSet):
 def chooser_api_proxy(request, source_name, path):
     source_config = getattr(settings, 'WAGTAILTRANSFER_SOURCES', {}).get(source_name)
 
+    api_proxy_timeout_seconds = getattr(settings, 'WAGTAILTRANSFER_CHOOSER_API_PROXY_TIMEOUT', 5)
+
     if source_config is None:
         raise Http404("Source does not exist")
 
@@ -194,7 +196,7 @@ def chooser_api_proxy(request, source_name, path):
 
     response = requests.get(f"{base_url}{path}?{request.GET.urlencode()}", headers={
         'Accept': request.META['HTTP_ACCEPT'],
-    }, timeout=5)
+    }, timeout=api_proxy_timeout_seconds)
 
     return HttpResponse(response.content, status=response.status_code)