diff --git a/client/native/client.go b/client/native/client.go
index 6302005..9757b9c 100644
--- a/client/native/client.go
+++ b/client/native/client.go
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ type Options struct {
 
 	// Logger provides a logger which should be used for this client.
 	Logger *slog.Logger
+
+	// HTTPClient sends ARI REST requests. When nil, a client using the package
+	// RequestTimeout is created.
+	HTTPClient *http.Client
 }
 
 // ConnectWithContext creates and connects a new Client to Asterisk ARI.
@@ -143,9 +147,15 @@ func New(opts *Options) *Client {
 			&slog.HandlerOptions{Level: slog.LevelError}))
 	}
 
+	httpClient := opts.HTTPClient
+	if httpClient == nil {
+		httpClient = &http.Client{Timeout: RequestTimeout}
+	}
+
 	return &Client{
-		appName: opts.Application,
-		Options: opts,
+		appName:    opts.Application,
+		Options:    opts,
+		httpClient: httpClient,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -168,7 +178,7 @@ type Client struct {
 	bus ari.Bus
 
 	// httpClient is the reusable HTTP client on which commands to Asterisk are sent
-	httpClient http.Client
+	httpClient *http.Client
 
 	cancel context.CancelFunc
 }
diff --git a/client/native/request_test.go b/client/native/request_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a289d53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/native/request_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+package native
+
+import (
+	"net"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestRequestStopsAtCustomHTTPClientTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	server := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(_ http.ResponseWriter, request *http.Request) {
+		<-request.Context().Done()
+	}))
+	defer server.Close()
+
+	httpClient := &http.Client{Timeout: 25 * time.Millisecond}
+	client := New(&Options{
+		URL:        server.URL,
+		HTTPClient: httpClient,
+	})
+
+	startedAt := time.Now()
+	err := client.get("/channels", nil)
+
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	require.Less(t, time.Since(startedAt), 500*time.Millisecond)
+
+	var networkError net.Error
+	require.ErrorAs(t, err, &networkError)
+	require.True(t, networkError.Timeout())
+}
+
+func TestNewUsesProvidedHTTPClient(t *testing.T) {
+	httpClient := &http.Client{}
+
+	client := New(&Options{HTTPClient: httpClient})
+
+	require.Same(t, httpClient, client.httpClient)
+}
+
+func TestNewUsesPackageDefaultRequestTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	client := New(&Options{})
+
+	require.Equal(t, RequestTimeout, client.httpClient.Timeout)
+}