diff --git a/libs/utils/src/backoff.rs b/libs/utils/src/backoff.rs
index 096c7e5854..0f7108613f 100644
--- a/libs/utils/src/backoff.rs
+++ b/libs/utils/src/backoff.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ use tokio_util::sync::CancellationToken;
 pub const DEFAULT_BASE_BACKOFF_SECONDS: f64 = 0.1;
 pub const DEFAULT_MAX_BACKOFF_SECONDS: f64 = 3.0;
 
+pub const DEFAULT_NETWORK_BASE_BACKOFF_SECONDS: f64 = 1.5;
+pub const DEFAULT_NETWORK_MAX_BACKOFF_SECONDS: f64 = 60.0;
+
+
 pub async fn exponential_backoff(
     n: u32,
     base_increment: f64,
@@ -37,6 +41,31 @@ pub fn exponential_backoff_duration_seconds(n: u32, base_increment: f64, max_sec
     }
 }
 
+pub async fn retry<T, O, F, E>(
+    op: O,
+    is_permanent: impl Fn(&E) -> bool,
+    warn_threshold: u32,
+    max_retries: u32,
+    description: &str,
+    cancel: &CancellationToken,
+) -> Option<Result<T, E>>
+where
+    E: Display + Debug + 'static,
+    O: FnMut() -> F,
+    F: Future<Output = Result<T, E>>,
+{
+    retry_with_options(
+        op,
+        is_permanent,
+        warn_threshold,
+        max_retries,
+        description,
+        cancel,
+        DEFAULT_BASE_BACKOFF_SECONDS,
+        DEFAULT_MAX_BACKOFF_SECONDS,
+    ).await
+}
+
 /// Retries passed operation until one of the following conditions are met:
 /// - encountered error is considered as permanent (non-retryable)
 /// - retries have been exhausted
@@ -51,13 +80,15 @@ pub fn exponential_backoff_duration_seconds(n: u32, base_increment: f64, max_sec
 /// for any other error type. Final failed attempt is logged with `{:?}`.
 ///
 /// Returns `None` if cancellation was noticed during backoff or the terminal result.
-pub async fn retry<T, O, F, E>(
+pub async fn retry_with_options<T, O, F, E>(
     mut op: O,
     is_permanent: impl Fn(&E) -> bool,
     warn_threshold: u32,
     max_retries: u32,
     description: &str,
     cancel: &CancellationToken,
+    base_increment: f64,
+    max_seconds: f64,
 ) -> Option<Result<T, E>>
 where
     // Not std::error::Error because anyhow::Error doesnt implement it.
@@ -104,8 +135,8 @@ where
         // sleep and retry
         exponential_backoff(
             attempts,
-            DEFAULT_BASE_BACKOFF_SECONDS,
-            DEFAULT_MAX_BACKOFF_SECONDS,
+            base_increment,
+            max_seconds,
             cancel,
         )
         .await;
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client/download.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client/download.rs
index efcd20d1bf..a17472753c 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client/download.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client/download.rs
@@ -693,13 +693,15 @@ where
     O: FnMut() -> F,
     F: Future<Output = Result<T, DownloadError>>,
 {
-    backoff::retry(
+    backoff::retry_with_options(
         op,
         DownloadError::is_permanent,
         FAILED_DOWNLOAD_WARN_THRESHOLD,
         FAILED_REMOTE_OP_RETRIES,
         description,
         cancel,
+        backoff::DEFAULT_NETWORK_BASE_BACKOFF_SECONDS,
+        backoff::DEFAULT_NETWORK_MAX_BACKOFF_SECONDS,
     )
     .await
     .ok_or_else(|| DownloadError::Cancelled)
@@ -715,13 +717,15 @@ where
     O: FnMut() -> F,
     F: Future<Output = Result<T, DownloadError>>,
 {
-    backoff::retry(
+    backoff::retry_with_options(
         op,
         DownloadError::is_permanent,
         FAILED_DOWNLOAD_WARN_THRESHOLD,
         u32::MAX,
         description,
         cancel,
+        backoff::DEFAULT_NETWORK_BASE_BACKOFF_SECONDS,
+        backoff::DEFAULT_NETWORK_MAX_BACKOFF_SECONDS,
     )
     .await
     .ok_or_else(|| DownloadError::Cancelled)
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/layer.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/layer.rs
index a9f1189b41..cfe5f398df 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/layer.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/layer.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ use camino::{Utf8Path, Utf8PathBuf};
 use pageserver_api::keyspace::KeySpace;
 use pageserver_api::models::HistoricLayerInfo;
 use pageserver_api::shard::{ShardIdentity, ShardIndex, TenantShardId};
+use utils::backoff;
 use std::ops::Range;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, AtomicUsize, Ordering};
 use std::sync::{Arc, Weak};
@@ -1204,8 +1205,8 @@ impl LayerInner {
 
                 let backoff = utils::backoff::exponential_backoff_duration_seconds(
                     consecutive_failures.min(u32::MAX as usize) as u32,
-                    1.5,
-                    60.0,
+                    backoff::DEFAULT_NETWORK_BASE_BACKOFF_SECONDS,
+                    backoff::DEFAULT_NETWORK_MAX_BACKOFF_SECONDS,
                 );
 
                 let backoff = std::time::Duration::from_secs_f64(backoff);