diff --git a/src/mesa_legal_data/publisher/client.py b/src/mesa_legal_data/publisher/client.py
index 58cab4b..37c9daa 100644
--- a/src/mesa_legal_data/publisher/client.py
+++ b/src/mesa_legal_data/publisher/client.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def __init__(
         self,
         settings: MesaTargetSettings,
         api_key: str | None = None,
-        timeout_seconds: float = 15.0,
+        timeout_seconds: float = 60.0,
     ):
         self.settings = settings
         self._api_key = api_key or os.environ.get("MESA_DATA_MESA_API_KEY") or os.environ.get("MESA_API_KEY")
diff --git a/src/mesa_legal_data/publisher/engine.py b/src/mesa_legal_data/publisher/engine.py
index e7065c8..4cf5e45 100644
--- a/src/mesa_legal_data/publisher/engine.py
+++ b/src/mesa_legal_data/publisher/engine.py
@@ -344,6 +344,8 @@ def execute_publish_delivery(
     expected_target_config_sha256: str | None = None,
     progress_callback: Callable[[dict[str, Any]], None] | None = None,
     is_cancelled_cb: Callable[[], bool] | None = None,
+    max_inline_polls: int = 5,
+    poll_interval_seconds: float = 0.5,
 ) -> dict[str, Any]:
     """
     Executes an end-to-end MESA v4 publish delivery:
@@ -499,7 +501,6 @@ def execute_publish_delivery(
 
             final_item_state = initial_state
             if initial_state in (MutationState.QUEUED.value, MutationState.PROCESSING.value):
-                # Poll mutation until terminal state
                 update_delivery_item_state(
                     conn,
                     item_id=item_id,
@@ -507,8 +508,9 @@ def execute_publish_delivery(
                     remote_mutation_id=remote_mutation_id,
                 )
                 poll_attempts = 0
-                while poll_attempts < 5:
-                    time.sleep(0.5)
+                while poll_attempts < max_inline_polls:
+                    if poll_interval_seconds > 0:
+                        time.sleep(poll_interval_seconds)
                     poll_res = client.get_mutation_status(remote_mutation_id or "")
                     polled_state = poll_res.get("state")
                     if polled_state in (