diff --git a/oslo/messaging/_drivers/amqpdriver.py b/oslo/messaging/_drivers/amqpdriver.py
index 41dbb66a6..0bebe8a79 100644
--- a/oslo/messaging/_drivers/amqpdriver.py
+++ b/oslo/messaging/_drivers/amqpdriver.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ from oslo import messaging
 from oslo.messaging._drivers import amqp as rpc_amqp
 from oslo.messaging._drivers import base
 from oslo.messaging._drivers import common as rpc_common
+from oslo.messaging._i18n import _
 from oslo.messaging._i18n import _LI
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -207,7 +208,7 @@ class ReplyWaiter(object):
     @staticmethod
     def _raise_timeout_exception(msg_id):
         raise messaging.MessagingTimeout(
-            'Timed out waiting for a reply to message ID %s' % msg_id)
+            _('Timed out waiting for a reply to message ID %s.') % msg_id)
 
     def _process_reply(self, data):
         result = None
@@ -271,7 +272,8 @@ class ReplyWaiter(object):
         # have the first thread take responsibility for passing replies not
         # intended for itself to the appropriate thread.
         #
-        timer = rpc_common.DecayingTimer(duration=timeout).start()
+        timer = rpc_common.DecayingTimer(duration=timeout)
+        timer.start()
         final_reply = None
         while True:
             if self.conn_lock.acquire(False):
diff --git a/oslo/messaging/_drivers/common.py b/oslo/messaging/_drivers/common.py
index 9a4f69617..3d671438c 100644
--- a/oslo/messaging/_drivers/common.py
+++ b/oslo/messaging/_drivers/common.py
@@ -340,15 +340,14 @@ class DecayingTimer(object):
     def start(self):
         if self._duration is not None:
             self._ends_at = time.time() + max(0, self._duration)
-        return self
 
     def check_return(self, timeout_callback, *args, **kwargs):
         maximum = kwargs.pop('maximum', None)
         if self._duration is None:
             return None if maximum is None else maximum
         if self._ends_at is None:
-            raise RuntimeError("Can not check/return a timeout from a timer"
-                               " that has not been started")
+            raise RuntimeError(_("Can not check/return a timeout from a timer"
+                               " that has not been started."))
 
         left = self._ends_at - time.time()
         if left <= 0:
diff --git a/oslo/messaging/_drivers/impl_qpid.py b/oslo/messaging/_drivers/impl_qpid.py
index 8c9b86d8c..de477f4d4 100644
--- a/oslo/messaging/_drivers/impl_qpid.py
+++ b/oslo/messaging/_drivers/impl_qpid.py
@@ -642,7 +642,8 @@ class Connection(object):
     def iterconsume(self, limit=None, timeout=None):
         """Return an iterator that will consume from all queues/consumers."""
 
-        timer = rpc_common.DecayingTimer(duration=timeout).start()
+        timer = rpc_common.DecayingTimer(duration=timeout)
+        timer.start()
 
         def _raise_timeout(exc):
             LOG.debug('Timed out waiting for RPC response: %s', exc)
diff --git a/oslo/messaging/_drivers/impl_rabbit.py b/oslo/messaging/_drivers/impl_rabbit.py
index 732d183f6..a93ad7bf0 100644
--- a/oslo/messaging/_drivers/impl_rabbit.py
+++ b/oslo/messaging/_drivers/impl_rabbit.py
@@ -701,7 +701,8 @@ class Connection(object):
     def iterconsume(self, limit=None, timeout=None):
         """Return an iterator that will consume from all queues/consumers."""
 
-        timer = rpc_common.DecayingTimer(duration=timeout).start()
+        timer = rpc_common.DecayingTimer(duration=timeout)
+        timer.start()
 
         def _raise_timeout(exc):
             LOG.debug('Timed out waiting for RPC response: %s', exc)