diff --git a/neutron/agent/linux/ovsdb_monitor.py b/neutron/agent/linux/ovsdb_monitor.py
index 4dcdc57e97..c49bdc5f19 100644
--- a/neutron/agent/linux/ovsdb_monitor.py
+++ b/neutron/agent/linux/ovsdb_monitor.py
@@ -69,6 +69,10 @@ class SimpleInterfaceMonitor(OvsdbMonitor):
             respawn_interval=respawn_interval,
         )
         self.data_received = False
+        if respawn_interval:
+            self._default_timeout = respawn_interval / 2
+        else:
+            self._default_timeout = 10
 
     @property
     def is_active(self):
@@ -87,7 +91,8 @@ class SimpleInterfaceMonitor(OvsdbMonitor):
         """
         return bool(list(self.iter_stdout())) or not self.is_active
 
-    def start(self, block=False, timeout=5):
+    def start(self, block=False, timeout=None):
+        timeout = timeout or self._default_timeout
         super(SimpleInterfaceMonitor, self).start()
         if block:
             eventlet.timeout.Timeout(timeout)