diff --git a/capsulflask/__init__.py b/capsulflask/__init__.py
index 85fe4bb..e2ca2c4 100644
--- a/capsulflask/__init__.py
+++ b/capsulflask/__init__.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ app.config.from_mapping(
   SECRET_KEY=os.environ.get("SECRET_KEY", default="dev"),
   HUB_MODE_ENABLED=os.environ.get("HUB_MODE_ENABLED", default="False").lower() in ['true', '1', 't', 'y', 'yes'],
   SPOKE_MODE_ENABLED=os.environ.get("SPOKE_MODE_ENABLED", default="True").lower() in ['true', '1', 't', 'y', 'yes'],
+  INTERNAL_HTTP_TIMEOUT_SECONDS=os.environ.get("INTERNAL_HTTP_TIMEOUT_SECONDS", default="300"),
   HUB_MODEL=os.environ.get("HUB_MODEL", default="mock"),
   SPOKE_MODEL=os.environ.get("SPOKE_MODEL", default="mock"),
   LOG_LEVEL=os.environ.get("LOG_LEVEL", default="INFO"),
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ stripe.api_key = app.config['STRIPE_SECRET_KEY']
 stripe.api_version = app.config['STRIPE_API_VERSION']
 
 app.config['FLASK_MAIL_INSTANCE'] = Mail(app)
-app.config['HTTP_CLIENT'] = MyHTTPClient(timeout_seconds=5)
+app.config['HTTP_CLIENT'] = MyHTTPClient(timeout_seconds=int(app.config['INTERNAL_HTTP_TIMEOUT_SECONDS']))
 app.config['BTCPAY_CLIENT'] = btcpay.Client(api_uri=app.config['BTCPAY_URL'], pem=app.config['BTCPAY_PRIVATE_KEY'])
 
 if app.config['HUB_MODE_ENABLED']:
diff --git a/capsulflask/hub_model.py b/capsulflask/hub_model.py
index a77c4a9..2082a40 100644
--- a/capsulflask/hub_model.py
+++ b/capsulflask/hub_model.py
@@ -180,6 +180,7 @@ class CapsulFlaskHub(VirtualizationInterface):
   def create(self, email: str, id: str, template_image_file_name: str, vcpus: int, memory_mb: int, ssh_authorized_keys: list):
     validate_capsul_id(id)
     online_hosts = get_model().get_online_hosts()
+    #current_app.logger.debug(f"hub_model.create(): ${len(online_hosts)} hosts")
     payload = json.dumps(dict(
       type="create", 
       email=email,