diff --git a/kmod/src/counters.h b/kmod/src/counters.h
index dd291816..42deed1d 100644
--- a/kmod/src/counters.h
+++ b/kmod/src/counters.h
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@
 	EXPAND_COUNTER(lock_shrink_work)			\
 	EXPAND_COUNTER(lock_unlock)				\
 	EXPAND_COUNTER(lock_wait)				\
+	EXPAND_COUNTER(log_merge_wait_timeout)			\
 	EXPAND_COUNTER(net_dropped_response)			\
 	EXPAND_COUNTER(net_send_bytes)				\
 	EXPAND_COUNTER(net_send_error)				\
diff --git a/kmod/src/options.c b/kmod/src/options.c
index b7a1148b..2520b75a 100644
--- a/kmod/src/options.c
+++ b/kmod/src/options.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ enum {
 	Opt_acl,
 	Opt_data_prealloc_blocks,
 	Opt_data_prealloc_contig_only,
+	Opt_log_merge_wait_timeout_ms,
 	Opt_metadev_path,
 	Opt_noacl,
 	Opt_orphan_scan_delay_ms,
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ static const match_table_t tokens = {
 	{Opt_acl, "acl"},
 	{Opt_data_prealloc_blocks, "data_prealloc_blocks=%s"},
 	{Opt_data_prealloc_contig_only, "data_prealloc_contig_only=%s"},
+	{Opt_log_merge_wait_timeout_ms, "log_merge_wait_timeout_ms=%s"},
 	{Opt_metadev_path, "metadev_path=%s"},
 	{Opt_noacl, "noacl"},
 	{Opt_orphan_scan_delay_ms, "orphan_scan_delay_ms=%s"},
@@ -113,6 +115,10 @@ static void free_options(struct scoutfs_mount_options *opts)
 	kfree(opts->metadev_path);
 }
 
+#define MIN_LOG_MERGE_WAIT_TIMEOUT_MS		100UL
+#define DEFAULT_LOG_MERGE_WAIT_TIMEOUT_MS	500
+#define MAX_LOG_MERGE_WAIT_TIMEOUT_MS		(60 * MSEC_PER_SEC)
+
 #define MIN_ORPHAN_SCAN_DELAY_MS	100UL
 #define DEFAULT_ORPHAN_SCAN_DELAY_MS	(10 * MSEC_PER_SEC)
 #define MAX_ORPHAN_SCAN_DELAY_MS	(60 * MSEC_PER_SEC)
@@ -126,11 +132,27 @@ static void init_default_options(struct scoutfs_mount_options *opts)
 
 	opts->data_prealloc_blocks = SCOUTFS_DATA_PREALLOC_DEFAULT_BLOCKS;
 	opts->data_prealloc_contig_only = 1;
+	opts->log_merge_wait_timeout_ms = DEFAULT_LOG_MERGE_WAIT_TIMEOUT_MS;
 	opts->orphan_scan_delay_ms = -1;
 	opts->quorum_heartbeat_timeout_ms = SCOUTFS_QUORUM_DEF_HB_TIMEO_MS;
 	opts->quorum_slot_nr = -1;
 }
 
+static int verify_log_merge_wait_timeout_ms(struct super_block *sb, int ret, int val)
+{
+	if (ret < 0) {
+		scoutfs_err(sb, "failed to parse log_merge_wait_timeout_ms value");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+	if (val < MIN_LOG_MERGE_WAIT_TIMEOUT_MS || val > MAX_LOG_MERGE_WAIT_TIMEOUT_MS) {
+		scoutfs_err(sb, "invalid log_merge_wait_timeout_ms value %d, must be between %lu and %lu",
+			    val, MIN_LOG_MERGE_WAIT_TIMEOUT_MS, MAX_LOG_MERGE_WAIT_TIMEOUT_MS);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static int verify_quorum_heartbeat_timeout_ms(struct super_block *sb, int ret, u64 val)
 {
 	if (ret < 0) {
@@ -196,6 +218,14 @@ static int parse_options(struct super_block *sb, char *options, struct scoutfs_m
 			opts->data_prealloc_contig_only = nr;
 			break;
 
+		case Opt_log_merge_wait_timeout_ms:
+			ret = match_int(args, &nr);
+			ret = verify_log_merge_wait_timeout_ms(sb, ret, nr);
+			if (ret < 0)
+				return ret;
+			opts->log_merge_wait_timeout_ms = nr64;
+			break;
+
 		case Opt_metadev_path:
 			ret = parse_bdev_path(sb, &args[0], &opts->metadev_path);
 			if (ret < 0)
@@ -422,6 +452,43 @@ static ssize_t data_prealloc_contig_only_store(struct kobject *kobj, struct kobj
 }
 SCOUTFS_ATTR_RW(data_prealloc_contig_only);
 
+static ssize_t log_merge_wait_timeout_ms_show(struct kobject *kobj, struct kobj_attribute *attr,
+						char *buf)
+{
+	struct super_block *sb = SCOUTFS_SYSFS_ATTRS_SB(kobj);
+	struct scoutfs_mount_options opts;
+
+	scoutfs_options_read(sb, &opts);
+
+	return snprintf(buf, PAGE_SIZE, "%u", opts.log_merge_wait_timeout_ms);
+}
+static ssize_t log_merge_wait_timeout_ms_store(struct kobject *kobj, struct kobj_attribute *attr,
+						 const char *buf, size_t count)
+{
+	struct super_block *sb = SCOUTFS_SYSFS_ATTRS_SB(kobj);
+	DECLARE_OPTIONS_INFO(sb, optinf);
+	char nullterm[30]; /* more than enough for octal -U64_MAX */
+	int val;
+	int len;
+	int ret;
+
+	len = min(count, sizeof(nullterm) - 1);
+	memcpy(nullterm, buf, len);
+	nullterm[len] = '\0';
+
+	ret = kstrtoint(nullterm, 0, &val);
+	ret = verify_log_merge_wait_timeout_ms(sb, ret, val);
+	if (ret == 0) {
+		write_seqlock(&optinf->seqlock);
+		optinf->opts.log_merge_wait_timeout_ms = val;
+		write_sequnlock(&optinf->seqlock);
+		ret = count;
+	}
+
+	return ret;
+}
+SCOUTFS_ATTR_RW(log_merge_wait_timeout_ms);
+
 static ssize_t metadev_path_show(struct kobject *kobj, struct kobj_attribute *attr, char *buf)
 {
 	struct super_block *sb = SCOUTFS_SYSFS_ATTRS_SB(kobj);
@@ -525,6 +592,7 @@ SCOUTFS_ATTR_RO(quorum_slot_nr);
 static struct attribute *options_attrs[] = {
 	SCOUTFS_ATTR_PTR(data_prealloc_blocks),
 	SCOUTFS_ATTR_PTR(data_prealloc_contig_only),
+	SCOUTFS_ATTR_PTR(log_merge_wait_timeout_ms),
 	SCOUTFS_ATTR_PTR(metadev_path),
 	SCOUTFS_ATTR_PTR(orphan_scan_delay_ms),
 	SCOUTFS_ATTR_PTR(quorum_heartbeat_timeout_ms),
diff --git a/kmod/src/options.h b/kmod/src/options.h
index 639f3882..4eebd669 100644
--- a/kmod/src/options.h
+++ b/kmod/src/options.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 struct scoutfs_mount_options {
 	u64 data_prealloc_blocks;
 	bool data_prealloc_contig_only;
+	unsigned int log_merge_wait_timeout_ms;
 	char *metadev_path;
 	unsigned int orphan_scan_delay_ms;
 	int quorum_slot_nr;
diff --git a/kmod/src/server.c b/kmod/src/server.c
index 698b76bd..1b6952f9 100644
--- a/kmod/src/server.c
+++ b/kmod/src/server.c
@@ -1052,21 +1052,13 @@ static int next_log_merge_item(struct super_block *sb,
  * abandoned log btree finalized.  If it takes too long each client has
  * a change to make forward progress before being asked to commit again.
  *
- * We're waiting on heavy state that is protected by mutexes and
- * transaction machinery.  It's tricky to recreate that state for
- * lightweight condition tests that don't change task state.  Instead of
- * trying to get that right, particularly as we unwind after success or
- * after timeouts, waiters use an unsatisfying poll.   Short enough to
- * not add terrible latency, given how heavy and infrequent this already
- * is, and long enough to not melt the cpu.  This could be tuned if it
- * becomes a problem.
- *
  * This can end up finalizing a new empty log btree if a new mount
  * happens to arrive at just the right time.  That's fine, merging will
  * ignore and tear down the empty input.
  */
-#define FINALIZE_POLL_MS	(11)
-#define FINALIZE_TIMEOUT_MS	(MSEC_PER_SEC / 2)
+#define FINALIZE_POLL_MIN_DELAY_MS	5U
+#define FINALIZE_POLL_MAX_DELAY_MS	100U
+#define FINALIZE_POLL_DELAY_GROWTH_PCT	150U
 static int finalize_and_start_log_merge(struct super_block *sb, struct scoutfs_log_trees *lt,
 					u64 rid, struct commit_hold *hold)
 {
@@ -1074,8 +1066,10 @@ static int finalize_and_start_log_merge(struct super_block *sb, struct scoutfs_l
 	struct scoutfs_super_block *super = DIRTY_SUPER_SB(sb);
 	struct scoutfs_log_merge_status stat;
 	struct scoutfs_log_merge_range rng;
+	struct scoutfs_mount_options opts;
 	struct scoutfs_log_trees each_lt;
 	struct scoutfs_log_trees fin;
+	unsigned int delay_ms;
 	unsigned long timeo;
 	bool saw_finalized;
 	bool others_active;
@@ -1083,10 +1077,14 @@ static int finalize_and_start_log_merge(struct super_block *sb, struct scoutfs_l
 	bool ours_visible;
 	struct scoutfs_key key;
 	char *err_str = NULL;
+	ktime_t start;
 	int ret;
 	int err;
 
-	timeo = jiffies + msecs_to_jiffies(FINALIZE_TIMEOUT_MS);
+	scoutfs_options_read(sb, &opts);
+	timeo = jiffies + msecs_to_jiffies(opts.log_merge_wait_timeout_ms);
+	delay_ms = FINALIZE_POLL_MIN_DELAY_MS;
+	start = ktime_get_raw();
 
 	for (;;) {
 		/* nothing to do if there's already a merge in flight */
@@ -1201,13 +1199,16 @@ static int finalize_and_start_log_merge(struct super_block *sb, struct scoutfs_l
 			if (ret < 0)
 				err_str = "applying commit before waiting for finalized";
 
-			msleep(FINALIZE_POLL_MS);
+			msleep(delay_ms);
+			delay_ms = min(delay_ms * FINALIZE_POLL_DELAY_GROWTH_PCT / 100,
+				       FINALIZE_POLL_MAX_DELAY_MS);
 
 			server_hold_commit(sb, hold);
 			mutex_lock(&server->logs_mutex);
 
 			/* done if we timed out */
 			if (time_after(jiffies, timeo)) {
+				scoutfs_inc_counter(sb, log_merge_wait_timeout);
 				ret = 0;
 				break;
 			}
diff --git a/utils/man/scoutfs.5 b/utils/man/scoutfs.5
index 6078bb74..fb56d19d 100644
--- a/utils/man/scoutfs.5
+++ b/utils/man/scoutfs.5
@@ -55,6 +55,19 @@ with initial sparse regions (perhaps by multiple threads writing to
 different regions) and wasted space isn't an issue (perhaps because the
 file population contains few small files).
 .TP
+.B log_merge_wait_timeout_ms=<number>
+This option sets the amount of time, in milliseconds, that log merge
+creation can wait before timing out.  This setting is per-mount, only
+changes the behavior of that mount, and only affects the server when it
+is running in that mount.
+.sp
+This determines how long it may take for mounts to synchronize
+committing their log trees to create a log merge operation.  Setting it
+too high can create long latencies in the event that a mount takes a
+long time to commit their log.  Setting it too low can result in the
+creation of excessive numbers of log trees that are never merged.  The
+default is 500 and it can not be less than 100 nor greater than 60000.
+.TP
 .B metadev_path=<device>
 The metadev_path option specifies the path to the block device that
 contains the filesystem's metadata.