diff --git a/scalar.c b/scalar.c
index 1326e1f608..d0d4489e40 100644
--- a/scalar.c
+++ b/scalar.c
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ static int set_recommended_config(int reconfigure)
 		{ "core.autoCRLF", "false" },
 		{ "core.safeCRLF", "false" },
 		{ "fetch.showForcedUpdates", "false" },
+		{ "core.configWriteLockTimeoutMS", "150" },
 		{ NULL, NULL },
 	};
 	int i;
@@ -208,6 +209,11 @@ static int set_recommended_config(int reconfigure)
 
 static int toggle_maintenance(int enable)
 {
+	unsigned long ul;
+
+	if (git_config_get_ulong("core.configWriteLockTimeoutMS", &ul))
+		git_config_push_parameter("core.configWriteLockTimeoutMS=150");
+
 	return run_git("maintenance",
 		       enable ? "start" : "unregister",
 		       enable ? NULL : "--force",
@@ -217,10 +223,14 @@ static int toggle_maintenance(int enable)
 static int add_or_remove_enlistment(int add)
 {
 	int res;
+	unsigned long ul;
 
 	if (!the_repository->worktree)
 		die(_("Scalar enlistments require a worktree"));
 
+	if (git_config_get_ulong("core.configWriteLockTimeoutMS", &ul))
+		git_config_push_parameter("core.configWriteLockTimeoutMS=150");
+
 	res = run_git("config", "--global", "--get", "--fixed-value",
 		      "scalar.repo", the_repository->worktree, NULL);