diff --git a/octavia/amphorae/drivers/keepalived/vrrp_rest_driver.py b/octavia/amphorae/drivers/keepalived/vrrp_rest_driver.py
index 9680d5ff23..33a2e7bbf8 100644
--- a/octavia/amphorae/drivers/keepalived/vrrp_rest_driver.py
+++ b/octavia/amphorae/drivers/keepalived/vrrp_rest_driver.py
@@ -88,7 +88,8 @@ class KeepalivedAmphoraDriverMixin(driver_base.VRRPDriverMixin):
 
         LOG.info("Start amphora %s VRRP Service.", amphora.id)
 
-        self._populate_amphora_api_version(amphora)
+        self._populate_amphora_api_version(amphora,
+                                           timeout_dict=timeout_dict)
         self.clients[amphora.api_version].start_vrrp(amphora,
                                                      timeout_dict=timeout_dict)
 
diff --git a/octavia/tests/unit/amphorae/drivers/keepalived/test_vrrp_rest_driver.py b/octavia/tests/unit/amphorae/drivers/keepalived/test_vrrp_rest_driver.py
index 940aae5944..fabfbae917 100644
--- a/octavia/tests/unit/amphorae/drivers/keepalived/test_vrrp_rest_driver.py
+++ b/octavia/tests/unit/amphorae/drivers/keepalived/test_vrrp_rest_driver.py
@@ -107,6 +107,9 @@ class TestVRRPRestDriver(base.TestCase):
 
         self.keepalived_mixin.start_vrrp_service(self.amphora_mock)
 
+        populate_mock = self.keepalived_mixin._populate_amphora_api_version
+        populate_mock.assert_called_once_with(self.amphora_mock,
+                                              timeout_dict=None)
         self.clients[API_VERSION].start_vrrp.assert_called_once_with(
             self.amphora_mock, timeout_dict=None)
 
@@ -121,6 +124,20 @@ class TestVRRPRestDriver(base.TestCase):
 
         self.clients[API_VERSION].start_vrrp.assert_not_called()
 
+        # With timeout_dict
+        self.clients[API_VERSION].start_vrrp.reset_mock()
+        populate_mock.reset_mock()
+
+        timeout_dict = mock.Mock()
+        self.keepalived_mixin.start_vrrp_service(self.amphora_mock,
+                                                 timeout_dict=timeout_dict)
+
+        populate_mock = self.keepalived_mixin._populate_amphora_api_version
+        populate_mock.assert_called_once_with(self.amphora_mock,
+                                              timeout_dict=timeout_dict)
+        self.clients[API_VERSION].start_vrrp.assert_called_once_with(
+            self.amphora_mock, timeout_dict=timeout_dict)
+
     def test_reload_vrrp_service(self):
 
         self.keepalived_mixin.reload_vrrp_service(self.lb_mock)
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/fix-timeout-dict-when-start-vrrp-278d4837702bd247.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/fix-timeout-dict-when-start-vrrp-278d4837702bd247.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..40d9f9012a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/fix-timeout-dict-when-start-vrrp-278d4837702bd247.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Fixed a too long timeout when attempting to start the VRRP service in an
+    unreachable amphora during a failover. A specific shorter timeout should be
+    used during the failovers.