diff --git a/gerrit_util.py b/gerrit_util.py
index 2ccc68556..8312bbac7 100644
--- a/gerrit_util.py
+++ b/gerrit_util.py
@@ -44,10 +44,11 @@ else:
   from io import StringIO
 
 LOGGER = logging.getLogger()
-# With a starting sleep time of 10.0 seconds, x <= [1.8-2.2]x backoff, and five
-# total tries, the sleep time between the first and last tries will be ~7 min.
-TRY_LIMIT = 5
-SLEEP_TIME = 10.0
+# With a starting sleep time of 12.0 seconds, x <= [1.8-2.2]x backoff, and six
+# total tries, the sleep time between the first and last tries will be ~6 min
+# (excluding time for each try).
+TRY_LIMIT = 6
+SLEEP_TIME = 12.0
 MAX_BACKOFF = 2.2
 MIN_BACKOFF = 1.8
 
diff --git a/tests/gerrit_util_test.py b/tests/gerrit_util_test.py
index 76ab745a6..4eda84aa8 100755
--- a/tests/gerrit_util_test.py
+++ b/tests/gerrit_util_test.py
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ class GerritUtilTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
     self.assertEqual('content✔', gerrit_util.ReadHttpResponse(conn).getvalue())
     self.assertEqual(2, len(conn.request.mock_calls))
-    gerrit_util.time_sleep.assert_called_once_with(10.0)
+    gerrit_util.time_sleep.assert_called_once_with(12.0)
 
   def testReadHttpResponse_TimeoutAndSuccess(self):
     conn = mock.Mock(req_params={'uri': 'uri', 'method': 'method'})
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ class GerritUtilTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
     self.assertEqual('content✔', gerrit_util.ReadHttpResponse(conn).getvalue())
     self.assertEqual(2, len(conn.request.mock_calls))
-    gerrit_util.time_sleep.assert_called_once_with(10.0)
+    gerrit_util.time_sleep.assert_called_once_with(12.0)
 
   def testReadHttpResponse_Expected404(self):
     conn = mock.Mock()