diff --git a/llama_stack/providers/remote/tool_runtime/tavily_search/config.py b/llama_stack/providers/remote/tool_runtime/tavily_search/config.py
index b4ddd9cb4..e3046343e 100644
--- a/llama_stack/providers/remote/tool_runtime/tavily_search/config.py
+++ b/llama_stack/providers/remote/tool_runtime/tavily_search/config.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class TavilySearchToolConfig(BaseModel):
     @classmethod
     def sample_run_config(cls, __distro_dir__: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
         return {
-            "api_key": "${env.TAVILY_SEARCH_API_KEY:=}",
+            "api_key": "${env.TAVILY_SEARCH_API_KEY:+}",
             "max_results": 3,
             "timeout": 30.0,
         }
diff --git a/llama_stack/providers/remote/tool_runtime/tavily_search/tavily_search.py b/llama_stack/providers/remote/tool_runtime/tavily_search/tavily_search.py
index 5158f4d40..e8ca36cf4 100644
--- a/llama_stack/providers/remote/tool_runtime/tavily_search/tavily_search.py
+++ b/llama_stack/providers/remote/tool_runtime/tavily_search/tavily_search.py
@@ -69,9 +69,10 @@ class TavilySearchToolRuntimeImpl(ToolGroupsProtocolPrivate, ToolRuntime, NeedsR
 
     async def invoke_tool(self, tool_name: str, kwargs: dict[str, Any]) -> ToolInvocationResult:
         api_key = self._get_api_key()
-
-        timeout = httpx.Timeout(timeout=self.config.timeout)
-
+        
+        # Configure timeout for external API calls using config values
+        timeout = httpx.Timeout(timeout=self.config.timeout, connect=self.config.connect_timeout)
+        
         async with httpx.AsyncClient(timeout=timeout) as client:
             response = await client.post(
                 "https://api.tavily.com/search",