diff --git a/exchange/bitswap/network/interface.go b/exchange/bitswap/network/interface.go
index 21b4d9ead..dfc1b3f02 100644
--- a/exchange/bitswap/network/interface.go
+++ b/exchange/bitswap/network/interface.go
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ type BitSwapNetwork interface {
 }
 
 type MessageSender interface {
-	SendMsg(bsmsg.BitSwapMessage) error
+	SendMsg(context.Context, bsmsg.BitSwapMessage) error
 	Close() error
 }
 
diff --git a/exchange/bitswap/network/ipfs_impl.go b/exchange/bitswap/network/ipfs_impl.go
index 3d992769b..c854f853e 100644
--- a/exchange/bitswap/network/ipfs_impl.go
+++ b/exchange/bitswap/network/ipfs_impl.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
+	"time"
 
 	bsmsg "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/exchange/bitswap/message"
 
@@ -20,6 +21,8 @@ import (
 
 var log = logging.Logger("bitswap_network")
 
+var sendMessageTimeout = time.Minute * 10
+
 // NewFromIpfsHost returns a BitSwapNetwork supported by underlying IPFS host
 func NewFromIpfsHost(host host.Host, r routing.ContentRouting) BitSwapNetwork {
 	bitswapNetwork := impl{
@@ -53,11 +56,20 @@ func (s *streamMessageSender) Close() error {
 	return s.s.Close()
 }
 
-func (s *streamMessageSender) SendMsg(msg bsmsg.BitSwapMessage) error {
-	return msgToStream(s.s, msg)
+func (s *streamMessageSender) SendMsg(ctx context.Context, msg bsmsg.BitSwapMessage) error {
+	return msgToStream(ctx, s.s, msg)
 }
 
-func msgToStream(s inet.Stream, msg bsmsg.BitSwapMessage) error {
+func msgToStream(ctx context.Context, s inet.Stream, msg bsmsg.BitSwapMessage) error {
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(sendMessageTimeout)
+	if dl, ok := ctx.Deadline(); ok {
+		deadline = dl
+	}
+
+	if err := s.SetWriteDeadline(deadline); err != nil {
+		log.Warningf("error setting deadline: %s", err)
+	}
+
 	switch s.Protocol() {
 	case ProtocolBitswap:
 		if err := msg.ToNetV1(s); err != nil {
@@ -72,6 +84,10 @@ func msgToStream(s inet.Stream, msg bsmsg.BitSwapMessage) error {
 	default:
 		return fmt.Errorf("unrecognized protocol on remote: %s", s.Protocol())
 	}
+
+	if err := s.SetWriteDeadline(time.Time{}); err != nil {
+		log.Warningf("error resetting deadline: %s", err)
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -107,7 +123,7 @@ func (bsnet *impl) SendMessage(
 	}
 	defer s.Close()
 
-	return msgToStream(s, outgoing)
+	return msgToStream(ctx, s, outgoing)
 }
 
 func (bsnet *impl) SetDelegate(r Receiver) {
diff --git a/exchange/bitswap/testnet/virtual.go b/exchange/bitswap/testnet/virtual.go
index ab3535c1f..4d8769e5b 100644
--- a/exchange/bitswap/testnet/virtual.go
+++ b/exchange/bitswap/testnet/virtual.go
@@ -119,8 +119,8 @@ type messagePasser struct {
 	ctx    context.Context
 }
 
-func (mp *messagePasser) SendMsg(m bsmsg.BitSwapMessage) error {
-	return mp.net.SendMessage(mp.ctx, mp.local, mp.target, m)
+func (mp *messagePasser) SendMsg(ctx context.Context, m bsmsg.BitSwapMessage) error {
+	return mp.net.SendMessage(ctx, mp.local, mp.target, m)
 }
 
 func (mp *messagePasser) Close() error {
diff --git a/exchange/bitswap/wantmanager.go b/exchange/bitswap/wantmanager.go
index 388db20b5..f5869d82e 100644
--- a/exchange/bitswap/wantmanager.go
+++ b/exchange/bitswap/wantmanager.go
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ func (mq *msgQueue) doWork(ctx context.Context) {
 
 	// send wantlist updates
 	for { // try to send this message until we fail.
-		err := mq.sender.SendMsg(wlm)
+		err := mq.sender.SendMsg(ctx, wlm)
 		if err == nil {
 			return
 		}