diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7dae9117..07cd15b2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -713,6 +713,7 @@ Below is the complete list of available options that can be used to customize yo
 - **GITLAB_PROJECTS_VISIBILITY**: Set default projects visibility level. Possible values `public`, `private` and `internal`. Defaults to `private`.
 - **GITLAB_WEBHOOK_TIMEOUT**: Sets the timeout for webhooks. Defaults to `10` seconds.
 - **GITLAB_SATELLITES_TIMEOUT**: Sets the timeout for satellites. Defaults to `30` seconds.
+- **GITLAB_TIMEOUT**: Sets the timeout for git commands. Defaults to `10` seconds.
 - **GITLAB_BACKUP_DIR**: The backup folder in the container. Defaults to `/home/git/data/backups`
 - **GITLAB_BACKUPS**: Setup cron job to automatic backups. Possible values `disable`, `daily`, `weekly` or `monthly`. Disabled by default
 - **GITLAB_BACKUP_EXPIRY**: Configure how long (in seconds) to keep backups before they are deleted. By default when automated backups are disabled backups are kept forever (0 seconds), else the backups expire in 7 days (604800 seconds).
diff --git a/assets/config/gitlabhq/gitlab.yml b/assets/config/gitlabhq/gitlab.yml
index 292a29b8..c94df819 100644
--- a/assets/config/gitlabhq/gitlab.yml
+++ b/assets/config/gitlabhq/gitlab.yml
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ production: &base
         allow_username_or_email_login: {{LDAP_ALLOW_USERNAME_OR_EMAIL_LOGIN}}
 
         # To maintain tight control over the number of active users on your GitLab installation,
-        # enable this setting to keep new users blocked until they have been cleared by the admin 
+        # enable this setting to keep new users blocked until they have been cleared by the admin
         # (default: false).
         block_auto_created_users: {{LDAP_BLOCK_AUTO_CREATED_USERS}}
 
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ production: &base
     # This value can be increased if you have very large commits
     max_size: {{GITLAB_MAX_SIZE}} # 20.megabytes
     # Git timeout to read a commit, in seconds
-    timeout: 10
+    timeout: {{GITLAB_TIMEOUT}}
 
   #
   # 4. Extra customization
diff --git a/assets/init b/assets/init
index 212019ab..2a96c90b 100755
--- a/assets/init
+++ b/assets/init
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ GITLAB_PROJECTS_VISIBILITY=${GITLAB_PROJECTS_VISIBILITY:-private}
 GITLAB_RELATIVE_URL_ROOT=${GITLAB_RELATIVE_URL_ROOT:-}
 GITLAB_WEBHOOK_TIMEOUT=${GITLAB_WEBHOOK_TIMEOUT:-10}
 GITLAB_SATELLITES_TIMEOUT=${GITLAB_SATELLITES_TIMEOUT:-30}
+GITLAB_TIMEOUT=${GITLAB_TIMEOUT:-10}
 
 SSL_SELF_SIGNED=${SSL_SELF_SIGNED:-false}
 SSL_CERTIFICATE_PATH=${SSL_CERTIFICATE_PATH:-$GITLAB_DATA_DIR/certs/gitlab.crt}
@@ -425,6 +426,9 @@ sudo -u git -H sed 's/{{GITLAB_WEBHOOK_TIMEOUT}}/'"${GITLAB_WEBHOOK_TIMEOUT}"'/'
 # configure gitlab satellite timeout
 sudo -u git -H sed 's/{{GITLAB_SATELLITES_TIMEOUT}}/'"${GITLAB_SATELLITES_TIMEOUT}"'/' -i config/gitlab.yml
 
+# configure git timeout
+sudo -u git -H sed 's/{{GITLAB_TIMEOUT}}/'"${GITLAB_TIMEOUT}"'/' -i config/gitlab.yml
+
 # configure database
 if [ "${DB_TYPE}" == "postgres" ]; then
   sudo -u git -H sed 's/{{DB_ADAPTER}}/postgresql/' -i config/database.yml