diff --git a/devcycle_python_sdk/api/event_client.py b/devcycle_python_sdk/api/event_client.py
index 862a115..942b064 100644
--- a/devcycle_python_sdk/api/event_client.py
+++ b/devcycle_python_sdk/api/event_client.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def publish_events(self, batch: List[UserEventsBatchRecord]) -> str:
         Attempts to send a batch of events to the server
         """
         retries_remaining = self.max_batch_retries + 1
-        timeout = self.options.event_request_timeout_ms
+        timeout = self.options.event_request_timeout_ms / 1000.0
 
         payload_json = json.dumps(
             {
diff --git a/test/api/test_event_client.py b/test/api/test_event_client.py
index 6a12537..ccec818 100644
--- a/test/api/test_event_client.py
+++ b/test/api/test_event_client.py
@@ -66,6 +66,24 @@ def test_publish_events_empty_batch(self):
         message = self.test_client.publish_events([])
         self.assertEqual(message, "Successfully received 1 event batches.")
 
+    @responses.activate
+    def test_publish_events_timeout_in_seconds(self):
+        responses.add(responses.POST, self.test_batch_url, json={"message": "ok"})
+        self.test_client.publish_events(self.test_batch)
+        self.assertEqual(responses.calls[0].request.req_kwargs["timeout"], 10.0)
+
+    @responses.activate
+    def test_publish_events_custom_timeout_in_seconds(self):
+        client = EventAPIClient(
+            self.sdk_key,
+            DevCycleLocalOptions(
+                events_api_uri="http://localhost:8080", event_request_timeout_ms=250
+            ),
+        )
+        responses.add(responses.POST, self.test_batch_url, json={"message": "ok"})
+        client.publish_events(self.test_batch)
+        self.assertEqual(responses.calls[0].request.req_kwargs["timeout"], 0.25)
+
     @responses.activate(registry=OrderedRegistry)
     def test_publish_events_retries_exceeded(self):
         for i in range(2):