diff --git a/client/rpc_client.go b/client/rpc_client.go
index d46fdcd7..7b44d7c5 100644
--- a/client/rpc_client.go
+++ b/client/rpc_client.go
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ func (r *rpcClient) call(ctx context.Context, address string, req Request, resp
 		return err
 	case <-ctx.Done():
 		grr = ctx.Err()
-		return errors.New("go.micro.client", fmt.Sprintf("request timeout: %v", ctx.Err()), 408)
+		return errors.Timeout("go.micro.client", fmt.Sprintf("%v", ctx.Err()))
 	}
 }
 
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ func (r *rpcClient) stream(ctx context.Context, address string, req Request, opt
 	case err := <-ch:
 		grr = err
 	case <-ctx.Done():
-		grr = errors.New("go.micro.client", fmt.Sprintf("request timeout: %v", ctx.Err()), 408)
+		grr = errors.Timeout("go.micro.client", fmt.Sprintf("%v", ctx.Err()))
 	}
 
 	if grr != nil {
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ func (r *rpcClient) Call(ctx context.Context, request Request, response interfac
 	// should we noop right here?
 	select {
 	case <-ctx.Done():
-		return errors.New("go.micro.client", fmt.Sprintf("%v", ctx.Err()), 408)
+		return errors.Timeout("go.micro.client", fmt.Sprintf("%v", ctx.Err()))
 	default:
 	}
 
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ func (r *rpcClient) Call(ctx context.Context, request Request, response interfac
 
 		select {
 		case <-ctx.Done():
-			return errors.New("go.micro.client", fmt.Sprintf("call timeout: %v", ctx.Err()), 408)
+			return errors.Timeout("go.micro.client", fmt.Sprintf("call timeout: %v", ctx.Err()))
 		case err := <-ch:
 			// if the call succeeded lets bail early
 			if err == nil {
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ func (r *rpcClient) Stream(ctx context.Context, request Request, opts ...CallOpt
 	// should we noop right here?
 	select {
 	case <-ctx.Done():
-		return nil, errors.New("go.micro.client", fmt.Sprintf("%v", ctx.Err()), 408)
+		return nil, errors.Timeout("go.micro.client", fmt.Sprintf("%v", ctx.Err()))
 	default:
 	}
 
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ func (r *rpcClient) Stream(ctx context.Context, request Request, opts ...CallOpt
 
 		select {
 		case <-ctx.Done():
-			return nil, errors.New("go.micro.client", fmt.Sprintf("call timeout: %v", ctx.Err()), 408)
+			return nil, errors.Timeout("go.micro.client", fmt.Sprintf("call timeout: %v", ctx.Err()))
 		case rsp := <-ch:
 			// if the call succeeded lets bail early
 			if rsp.err == nil {
diff --git a/errors/errors.go b/errors/errors.go
index 78e06c98..61d340e4 100644
--- a/errors/errors.go
+++ b/errors/errors.go
@@ -92,13 +92,13 @@ func MethodNotAllowed(id, format string, a ...interface{}) error {
 	}
 }
 
-// InternalServerError generates a 500 error.
-func InternalServerError(id, format string, a ...interface{}) error {
+// Timeout generates a 408 error.
+func Timeout(id, format string, a ...interface{}) error {
 	return &Error{
 		Id:     id,
-		Code:   500,
+		Code:   408,
 		Detail: fmt.Sprintf(format, a...),
-		Status: http.StatusText(500),
+		Status: http.StatusText(408),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -111,3 +111,13 @@ func Conflict(id, format string, a ...interface{}) error {
 		Status: http.StatusText(409),
 	}
 }
+
+// InternalServerError generates a 500 error.
+func InternalServerError(id, format string, a ...interface{}) error {
+	return &Error{
+		Id:     id,
+		Code:   500,
+		Detail: fmt.Sprintf(format, a...),
+		Status: http.StatusText(500),
+	}
+}