diff --git a/oslo_cache/_opts.py b/oslo_cache/_opts.py
index a78e8615..137924dc 100644
--- a/oslo_cache/_opts.py
+++ b/oslo_cache/_opts.py
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ FILE_OPTIONS = {
                    ' before it is tried again. (dogpile.cache.memcache and'
                    ' oslo_cache.memcache_pool backends only).'),
         cfg.FloatOpt('memcache_socket_timeout',
-                     default=3.0,
+                     default=1.0,
                      help='Timeout in seconds for every call to a server.'
                      ' (dogpile.cache.memcache and oslo_cache.memcache_pool'
                      ' backends only).'),
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/lower_socket_timeout-ff5680a6be23bdb2.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/lower_socket_timeout-ff5680a6be23bdb2.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b0f72a25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/lower_socket_timeout-ff5680a6be23bdb2.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+upgrade:
+  - |
+    The default value for ``memcache_socket_timeout`` has been lowered from 3
+    seconds to 1 second. The positive side-effect of this can be found in
+    downstream `changes
+    <https://github.com/crowbar/crowbar-openstack/pull/1429>`_. If you
+    deployment relies explicitly on a timeout of 3 seconds, please set that
+    override in your configuration.