diff --git a/cmd/cognitive-worker/main.go b/cmd/cognitive-worker/main.go
index 36b26f9..0f8fce0 100644
--- a/cmd/cognitive-worker/main.go
+++ b/cmd/cognitive-worker/main.go
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ func main() {
 		if mediumAPIKey != "" {
 			mediumHeaders["Authorization"] = "Bearer " + mediumAPIKey
 		}
-		mediumHealthProbe = health.OptionalHTTPProbeWithHeaders(mediumReadinessClient, mediumEndpoint, mediumHeaders)
+		mediumHealthProbe = health.OptionalHTTPProbeWithHeaders(&http.Client{Timeout: 15 * time.Second}, mediumEndpoint, mediumHeaders)
 		// The local gateway may need several seconds to enumerate a loaded model.
 		// Keep this bounded, but do not classify a healthy MEDIUM provider as
 		// unavailable before its authenticated discovery response can arrive.