--- a/purpose_agent/llm_backend.py
+++ b/purpose_agent/llm_backend.py
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@
     ):
         from openai import OpenAI
 
         self.model = model
         self.client = OpenAI(
             base_url=base_url,
-            api_key=api_key or os.environ.get("OPENAI_API_KEY"),
+            api_key=api_key or os.environ.get("OPENAI_API_KEY"),
+            timeout=60.0,
         )