diff --git a/nixos-modules/host/default.nix b/nixos-modules/host/default.nix
index 932c9720..d6427e37 100644
--- a/nixos-modules/host/default.nix
+++ b/nixos-modules/host/default.nix
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ in
           WorkingDirectory = "${stateDir}/%i";
           ExecStart = "${stateDir}/%i/current/bin/microvm-run";
           ExecStop = "${stateDir}/%i/booted/bin/microvm-shutdown";
-          TimeoutSec = 150;
+          TimeoutSec = config.microvm.host.startupTimeout; 
           Restart = "always";
           RestartSec = "5s";
           User = user;
diff --git a/nixos-modules/host/options.nix b/nixos-modules/host/options.nix
index cbbe5b10..6b197c82 100644
--- a/nixos-modules/host/options.nix
+++ b/nixos-modules/host/options.nix
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@
         Whether to enable the microvm.nix host module.
       '';
     };
+    host.startupTimeout = mkOption {
+      description = "Start up timeout for the VMs in seconds";
+      type = types.ints.positive;
+      default = 150;
+    };
 
     host.useNotifySockets = mkOption {
       type = types.bool;