diff --git a/providers/apache/kafka/src/airflow/providers/apache/kafka/sensors/kafka.py b/providers/apache/kafka/src/airflow/providers/apache/kafka/sensors/kafka.py
index 35b35454a6733..5ee539616e291 100644
--- a/providers/apache/kafka/src/airflow/providers/apache/kafka/sensors/kafka.py
+++ b/providers/apache/kafka/src/airflow/providers/apache/kafka/sensors/kafka.py
@@ -204,6 +204,10 @@ def __init__(
             )
 
     def execute(self, context, event=None) -> Any:
+        if isinstance(self.timeout, (int, float)):
+            timeout = timedelta(seconds=self.timeout)
+        else:
+            timeout = self.timeout
         self.defer(
             trigger=AwaitMessageTrigger(
                 topics=self.topics,
@@ -215,6 +219,7 @@ def execute(self, context, event=None) -> Any:
                 poll_interval=self.poll_interval,
             ),
             method_name="execute_complete",
+            timeout=timeout,
         )
 
         return event
@@ -222,6 +227,10 @@ def execute(self, context, event=None) -> Any:
     def execute_complete(self, context, event=None):
         self.event_triggered_function(event, **context)
 
+        if isinstance(self.timeout, (int, float)):
+            timeout = timedelta(seconds=self.timeout)
+        else:
+            timeout = self.timeout
         self.defer(
             trigger=AwaitMessageTrigger(
                 topics=self.topics,
@@ -233,4 +242,5 @@ def execute_complete(self, context, event=None):
                 poll_interval=self.poll_interval,
             ),
             method_name="execute_complete",
+            timeout=timeout,
         )
diff --git a/providers/apache/kafka/tests/unit/apache/kafka/sensors/test_kafka.py b/providers/apache/kafka/tests/unit/apache/kafka/sensors/test_kafka.py
index 0934d86ae1efb..c409d60891227 100644
--- a/providers/apache/kafka/tests/unit/apache/kafka/sensors/test_kafka.py
+++ b/providers/apache/kafka/tests/unit/apache/kafka/sensors/test_kafka.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 import json
 import logging
+from datetime import timedelta
 
 import pytest
 
@@ -129,6 +130,27 @@ def test_await_message_trigger_function_with_timeout_parameter(self):
 
         assert sensor.timeout == 600
 
+    def test_await_message_trigger_function_forwards_timeout_to_deferral(self):
+        """The timeout must be forwarded to every deferral, not silently ignored."""
+        sensor = AwaitMessageTriggerFunctionSensor(
+            kafka_config_id="kafka_d",
+            topics=["test"],
+            task_id="test",
+            apply_function=_return_true,
+            event_triggered_function=_return_true,
+            timeout=600,
+        )
+
+        with pytest.raises(TaskDeferred) as exc_info:
+            sensor.execute(context={})
+        assert exc_info.value.timeout == timedelta(seconds=600)
+
+        # The sensor re-defers after every processed event, so the timeout must be
+        # applied to that deferral as well.
+        with pytest.raises(TaskDeferred) as exc_info:
+            sensor.execute_complete(context={})
+        assert exc_info.value.timeout == timedelta(seconds=600)
+
     def test_await_message_trigger_function_with_soft_fail_parameter(self):
         """Test that AwaitMessageTriggerFunctionSensor accepts soft_fail parameter."""
         sensor = AwaitMessageTriggerFunctionSensor(