diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/49922-network-cli-timeout.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/49922-network-cli-timeout.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4cb961f9788
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/49922-network-cli-timeout.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - fix for network_cli - ansible_command_timeout not working as expected (#49466)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/network_cli.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/network_cli.py
index 63f7eb91dc0..a7b075e644b 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/network_cli.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/connection/network_cli.py
@@ -373,8 +373,11 @@ class Connection(NetworkConnectionBase):
         command_prompt_matched = False
         matched_prompt_window = window_count = 0
 
+        cache_socket_timeout = self._ssh_shell.gettimeout()
         command_timeout = self.get_option('persistent_command_timeout')
         self._validate_timeout_value(command_timeout, "persistent_command_timeout")
+        if cache_socket_timeout != command_timeout:
+            self._ssh_shell.settimeout(command_timeout)
 
         buffer_read_timeout = self.get_option('persistent_buffer_read_timeout')
         self._validate_timeout_value(buffer_read_timeout, "persistent_buffer_read_timeout")
@@ -396,6 +399,8 @@ class Connection(NetworkConnectionBase):
                     signal.alarm(command_timeout)
 
                 except AnsibleCmdRespRecv:
+                    # reset socket timeout to global timeout
+                    self._ssh_shell.settimeout(cache_socket_timeout)
                     return self._command_response
             else:
                 data = self._ssh_shell.recv(256)
@@ -426,6 +431,8 @@ class Connection(NetworkConnectionBase):
                 resp = self._strip(self._last_response)
                 self._command_response = self._sanitize(resp, command)
                 if buffer_read_timeout == 0.0:
+                    # reset socket timeout to global timeout
+                    self._ssh_shell.settimeout(cache_socket_timeout)
                     return self._command_response
                 else:
                     command_prompt_matched = True
@@ -448,7 +455,8 @@ class Connection(NetworkConnectionBase):
             return to_text(response, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
         except (socket.timeout, AttributeError):
             display.vvvv(traceback.format_exc(), host=self._play_context.remote_addr)
-            raise AnsibleConnectionFailure("timeout trying to send command: %s" % command.strip())
+            raise AnsibleConnectionFailure("timeout value %s seconds reached while trying to send command: %s"
+                                           % (self._ssh_shell.gettimeout(), command.strip()))
 
     def _handle_buffer_read_timeout(self, signum, frame):
         display.vvvv("Response received, triggered 'persistent_buffer_read_timeout' timer of %s seconds"