diff --git a/stripe/http_client.py b/stripe/http_client.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/stripe/http_client.py
+++ b/stripe/http_client.py
@@ -144,6 +144,12 @@ class RequestsClient(HTTPClient):
 class UrlFetchClient(HTTPClient):
     name = 'urlfetch'
 
+    def __init__(self, verify_ssl_certs=True, deadline=55):
+        self._verify_ssl_certs = verify_ssl_certs
+        # GAE requests time out after 60 seconds, so make sure to default
+        # to 55 seconds to allow for a slow Stripe
+        self._deadline = deadline
+
     def request(self, method, url, headers, post_data=None):
         try:
             result = urlfetch.fetch(
@@ -154,9 +160,7 @@ class UrlFetchClient(HTTPClient):
                 # However, that's ok because the CA bundle they use recognizes
                 # api.stripe.com.
                 validate_certificate=self._verify_ssl_certs,
-                # GAE requests time out after 60 seconds, so make sure we leave
-                # some time for the application to handle a slow Stripe
-                deadline=55,
+                deadline=self._deadline,
                 payload=post_data
             )
         except urlfetch.Error, e:
Allow custom deadline for urlfetch HTTP client.