diff --git a/kuryr_tempest_plugin/tests/scenario/base.py b/kuryr_tempest_plugin/tests/scenario/base.py
index 2f8eeadd..afa532ee 100644
--- a/kuryr_tempest_plugin/tests/scenario/base.py
+++ b/kuryr_tempest_plugin/tests/scenario/base.py
@@ -218,12 +218,18 @@ class BaseKuryrScenarioTest(manager.NetworkScenarioTest):
         return kuryr_if['versioned_object.data']['id']
 
     def exec_command_in_pod(self, pod_name, command, namespace="default",
-                            stderr=False, container=None):
+                            stderr=False, container=None, req_timeout=20):
         api = self.k8s_client.CoreV1Api()
         kwargs = dict(command=command, stdin=False, stdout=True, tty=False,
                       stderr=stderr)
         if container is not None:
             kwargs['container'] = container
+        # NOTE(yboaron): sometimes the 'connect_get_namespaced_pod_exec'
+        # call is hanging from some reason (on OS select) although the command
+        # completed. To resolve that we set the '_request_timeout' value.
+        # see https://github.com/kubernetes-client/python/issues/559
+        if req_timeout is not None:
+            kwargs['_request_timeout'] = req_timeout
         if stderr:
             kwargs['_preload_content'] = False
             resp = stream(api.connect_get_namespaced_pod_exec, pod_name,