diff --git a/features/cellular/framework/targets/QUECTEL/EC2X/QUECTEL_EC2X.cpp b/features/cellular/framework/targets/QUECTEL/EC2X/QUECTEL_EC2X.cpp
index bace87723c8..b9f27756c7b 100644
--- a/features/cellular/framework/targets/QUECTEL/EC2X/QUECTEL_EC2X.cpp
+++ b/features/cellular/framework/targets/QUECTEL/EC2X/QUECTEL_EC2X.cpp
@@ -46,6 +46,11 @@ using namespace events;
 #define MBED_CONF_QUECTEL_EC2X_POLARITY    1 // active high
 #endif
 
+#if !defined(MBED_CONF_QUECTEL_EC2X_START_TIMEOUT)
+#define MBED_CONF_QUECTEL_EC2X_START_TIMEOUT    15000
+#endif
+
+
 static const intptr_t cellular_properties[AT_CellularDevice::PROPERTY_MAX] = {
     AT_CellularNetwork::RegistrationModeLAC,    // C_EREG
     AT_CellularNetwork::RegistrationModeLAC,    // C_GREG
@@ -128,7 +133,7 @@ nsapi_error_t QUECTEL_EC2X::soft_power_on()
 
         _at.lock();
 
-        _at.set_at_timeout(5000);
+        _at.set_at_timeout(MBED_CONF_QUECTEL_EC2X_START_TIMEOUT);
         _at.resp_start();
         _at.set_stop_tag("RDY");
         bool rdy = _at.consume_to_stop_tag();
diff --git a/features/cellular/framework/targets/QUECTEL/EC2X/mbed_lib.json b/features/cellular/framework/targets/QUECTEL/EC2X/mbed_lib.json
index ca0d1c735e0..224ca0a592e 100644
--- a/features/cellular/framework/targets/QUECTEL/EC2X/mbed_lib.json
+++ b/features/cellular/framework/targets/QUECTEL/EC2X/mbed_lib.json
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@
             "help": "Serial connection baud rate",
             "value": 115200
         },
+        "start-timeout": {
+            "help": "How long to wait for modem to start after reset (milliseconds)",
+            "value": 15000
+        },
         "provide-default": {
             "help": "Provide as default CellularDevice [true/false]",
             "value": false