diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/_http_connection.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/_http_connection.py
index c2f2c9c5aa..83ba11a413 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/_http_connection.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/_http_connection.py
@@ -230,13 +230,17 @@ def _send_request_with_stream_response(self, request: _Request) -> Iterator[http
             raise ButlerServerError(request.request_id) from e
 
     def _send_with_retries(self, request: _Request, stream: bool) -> httpx.Response:
+        max_retry_time_seconds = 120
+        start_time = time.time()
         while True:
             response = self._client.send(request.request, stream=stream)
             retry = _needs_retry(response)
-            if retry.retry:
+            time_remaining = max_retry_time_seconds - (time.time() - start_time)
+            if retry.retry and time_remaining > 0:
                 if stream:
                     response.close()
-                time.sleep(retry.delay_seconds)
+                sleep_time = min(time_remaining, retry.delay_seconds)
+                time.sleep(sleep_time)
             else:
                 return response
 
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/server/handlers/_query_streaming.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/server/handlers/_query_streaming.py
index 7e854ae789..6ae5e257cd 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/server/handlers/_query_streaming.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/remote_butler/server/handlers/_query_streaming.py
@@ -123,8 +123,7 @@ async def execute_streaming_query(query: StreamingQuery) -> StreamingResponse:
         await _block_retry_for_unit_test()
         raise HTTPException(
             status_code=503,  # service temporarily unavailable
-            detail="The Butler Server is currently overloaded with requests."
-            f" Try again in {_QUERY_RETRY_SECONDS} seconds.",
+            detail="The Butler Server is currently overloaded with requests.",
             headers={"retry-after": str(_QUERY_RETRY_SECONDS)},
         )