diff --git a/contrib/inventory/rax.ini b/contrib/inventory/rax.ini
index 5a269e16a3a..15948e7b2e6 100644
--- a/contrib/inventory/rax.ini
+++ b/contrib/inventory/rax.ini
@@ -55,3 +55,12 @@
 # will be ignored, and 4 will be used. Accepts a comma separated list,
 # the first found wins.
 # access_ip_version = 4
+
+# Environment Variable: RAX_CACHE_MAX_AGE
+# Default: 600
+#
+# A configuration the changes the behavior or the inventory cache.
+# Inventory listing performed before this value will be returned from
+# the cache instead of making a full request for all inventory. Setting
+# this value to 0 will force a full request.
+# cache_max_age = 600
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/contrib/inventory/rax.py b/contrib/inventory/rax.py
index 0028f54d201..4ac6b0f47e9 100755
--- a/contrib/inventory/rax.py
+++ b/contrib/inventory/rax.py
@@ -355,9 +355,12 @@ def get_cache_file_path(regions):
 
 
 def _list(regions, refresh_cache=True):
+    cache_max_age = int(get_config(p, 'rax', 'cache_max_age',
+                                   'RAX_CACHE_MAX_AGE', 600))
+
     if (not os.path.exists(get_cache_file_path(regions)) or
         refresh_cache or
-        (time() - os.stat(get_cache_file_path(regions))[-1]) > 600):
+        (time() - os.stat(get_cache_file_path(regions))[-1]) > cache_max_age):
         # Cache file doesn't exist or older than 10m or refresh cache requested
         _list_into_cache(regions)