diff --git a/cylc/flow/scripts/tui.py b/cylc/flow/scripts/tui.py
index f8f0879a1e6..2d48e649ef2 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/scripts/tui.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/scripts/tui.py
@@ -61,6 +61,21 @@ def get_option_parser() -> COP:
         color=False
     )
 
+    parser.add_option(
+        '--comms-timeout',
+        metavar='SEC',
+        help=(
+            "Set a timeout for network connections"
+            " to the running workflow. The default is no timeout."
+            " For task messaging connections see"
+            " site/user config file documentation."
+        ),
+        action='store',
+        default=3,
+        dest='comms_timeout',
+        type=int,
+    )
+
     return parser
 
 
@@ -76,5 +91,9 @@ def main(_, options: 'Values', workflow_id: Optional[str] = None) -> None:
         workflow_id = tokens.duplicate(user=getuser()).id
 
     # start Tui
-    with suppress_logging(), TuiApp().main(workflow_id):
+    with suppress_logging(), TuiApp().main(
+        workflow_id,
+        client_timeout=options.comms_timeout,
+    ):
+        # tui stops according to user input
         pass
diff --git a/cylc/flow/tui/app.py b/cylc/flow/tui/app.py
index fff634ea894..d802a2d5738 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/tui/app.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/tui/app.py
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ def load_child_node(self, key):
 
 
 @contextmanager
-def updater_subproc(filters):
+def updater_subproc(filters, client_timeout):
     """Runs the Updater in its own process.
 
     The updater provides the data for Tui to render. Running the updater
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ def updater_subproc(filters):
     decoupling the application update logic from the data update logic.
     """
     # start the updater
-    updater = Updater()
+    updater = Updater(client_timeout=client_timeout)
     p = Process(target=updater.start, args=(filters,))
     try:
         p.start()
@@ -285,7 +285,13 @@ def __init__(self, screen=None):
         self.filters = get_default_filters()
 
     @contextmanager
-    def main(self, w_id=None, id_filter=None, interactive=True):
+    def main(
+        self,
+        w_id=None,
+        id_filter=None,
+        interactive=True,
+        client_timeout=3,
+    ):
         """Start the Tui app.
 
         With interactive=False, this does not start the urwid event loop to
@@ -299,7 +305,7 @@ def main(self, w_id=None, id_filter=None, interactive=True):
         """
         self.set_initial_filters(w_id, id_filter)
 
-        with updater_subproc(self.filters) as updater:
+        with updater_subproc(self.filters, client_timeout) as updater:
             self.updater = updater
 
             # pre-subscribe to the provided workflow if requested
diff --git a/cylc/flow/tui/updater.py b/cylc/flow/tui/updater.py
index f9bd0cf2c00..26a8614b1a3 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/tui/updater.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/tui/updater.py
@@ -93,9 +93,6 @@ class Updater():
 
     """
 
-    # the maximum time to wait for a workflow update
-    CLIENT_TIMEOUT = 2
-
     # the interval between workflow listing scans
     BASE_SCAN_INTERVAL = 20
 
@@ -105,7 +102,7 @@ class Updater():
     # the command signal used to tell the updater to shut down
     SIGNAL_TERMINATE = 'terminate'
 
-    def __init__(self):
+    def __init__(self, client_timeout=3):
         # Cylc comms clients for each workflow we're connected to
         self._clients = {}
 
@@ -124,6 +121,9 @@ def __init__(self):
         # queue for commands to the updater
         self._command_queue = Queue()
 
+        # the maximum time to wait for a workflow update
+        self.client_timeout = client_timeout
+
     def subscribe(self, w_id):
         """Subscribe to updates from a workflow."""
         self._command_queue.put((self._subscribe.__name__, w_id))
@@ -269,10 +269,17 @@ async def _update_workflow(self, w_id, client, data):
                     'id': w_id,
                     'status': 'stopped',
                 })
-        except (CylcError, ZMQError):
+        except (CylcError, ZMQError) as exc:
             # something went wrong :(
             # remove the client on any error, we'll reconnect next time
             self._clients[w_id] = None
+            for workflow in data['workflows']:
+                if workflow['id'] == w_id:
+                    workflow['_tui_data'] = (
+                        f'Error - {str(exc).splitlines()[0]}'
+                    )
+                    break
+
         else:
             # the data arrived, add it to the update
             workflow_data = workflow_update['workflows'][0]
@@ -288,7 +295,7 @@ def _connect(self, data):
                 try:
                     self._clients[w_id] = get_client(
                         Tokens(w_id)['workflow'],
-                        timeout=self.CLIENT_TIMEOUT
+                        timeout=self.client_timeout,
                     )
                 except WorkflowStopped:
                     for workflow in data['workflows']:
@@ -297,7 +304,9 @@ def _connect(self, data):
                 except (ZMQError, ClientError, ClientTimeout) as exc:
                     for workflow in data['workflows']:
                         if workflow['id'] == w_id:
-                            workflow['_tui_data'] = f'Error: {exc}'
+                            workflow['_tui_data'] = (
+                                f'Error - {str(exc).splitlines()[0]}'
+                            )
                             break
 
     async def _scan(self):