diff --git a/src/cmd/services/m3dbnode/config/config_test.go b/src/cmd/services/m3dbnode/config/config_test.go
index 1ac0e0b5d1..3f3ce59354 100644
--- a/src/cmd/services/m3dbnode/config/config_test.go
+++ b/src/cmd/services/m3dbnode/config/config_test.go
@@ -332,8 +332,6 @@ db:
       service: null
       static: null
       seedNodes: null
-      namespaceResolutionTimeout: 0s
-      topologyResolutionTimeout: 0s
     writeConsistencyLevel: 2
     readConsistencyLevel: 2
     connectConsistencyLevel: 0
@@ -577,8 +575,6 @@ db:
         trustedCaFile: ""
         clientCertAuth: false
         autoTls: false
-    namespaceResolutionTimeout: 0s
-    topologyResolutionTimeout: 0s
   hashing:
     seed: 42
   writeNewSeriesAsync: true
diff --git a/src/dbnode/environment/config.go b/src/dbnode/environment/config.go
index b66371f10b..35bea74a7e 100644
--- a/src/dbnode/environment/config.go
+++ b/src/dbnode/environment/config.go
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ package environment
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/m3db/m3/src/dbnode/kvconfig"
 	"github.com/m3db/m3/src/dbnode/sharding"
@@ -38,10 +37,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/m3db/m3x/instrument"
 )
 
-const (
-	defaultSDTimeout = time.Duration(0) // Wait indefinitely by default
-)
-
 var (
 	errInvalidConfig = errors.New("must supply either service or static config")
 )
@@ -56,12 +51,6 @@ type Configuration struct {
 
 	// Presence of a (etcd) server in this config denotes an embedded cluster
 	SeedNodes *SeedNodesConfig `yaml:"seedNodes"`
-
-	// NamespaceResolutionTimeout is the maximum time to wait to discover namespaces from KV
-	NamespaceResolutionTimeout time.Duration `yaml:"namespaceResolutionTimeout"`
-
-	// TopologyResolutionTimeout is the maximum time to wait for a topology from KV
-	TopologyResolutionTimeout time.Duration `yaml:"topologyResolutionTimeout"`
 }
 
 // SeedNodesConfig defines fields for seed node
@@ -109,11 +98,9 @@ type ConfigureResults struct {
 
 // ConfigurationParameters are options used to create new ConfigureResults
 type ConfigurationParameters struct {
-	InstrumentOpts             instrument.Options
-	HashingSeed                uint32
-	HostID                     string
-	NamespaceResolutionTimeout time.Duration
-	TopologyResolutionTimeout  time.Duration
+	InstrumentOpts instrument.Options
+	HashingSeed    uint32
+	HostID         string
 }
 
 // Configure creates a new ConfigureResults
@@ -136,14 +123,11 @@ func (c Configuration) Configure(cfgParams ConfigurationParameters) (ConfigureRe
 }
 
 func (c Configuration) configureDynamic(cfgParams ConfigurationParameters) (ConfigureResults, error) {
-	sdTimeout := defaultSDTimeout
-	if initTimeout := c.Service.SDConfig.InitTimeout; initTimeout != nil && *initTimeout != 0 {
-		sdTimeout = *initTimeout
-	}
-
 	configSvcClientOpts := c.Service.NewOptions().
 		SetInstrumentOptions(cfgParams.InstrumentOpts).
-		SetServicesOptions(c.Service.SDConfig.NewOptions().SetInitTimeout(sdTimeout))
+		// Set timeout to zero so it will wait indefinitely for the
+		// initial value.
+		SetServicesOptions(services.NewOptions().SetInitTimeout(0))
 	configSvcClient, err := etcdclient.NewConfigServiceClient(configSvcClientOpts)
 	if err != nil {
 		err = fmt.Errorf("could not create m3cluster client: %v", err)
@@ -153,8 +137,7 @@ func (c Configuration) configureDynamic(cfgParams ConfigurationParameters) (Conf
 	dynamicOpts := namespace.NewDynamicOptions().
 		SetInstrumentOptions(cfgParams.InstrumentOpts).
 		SetConfigServiceClient(configSvcClient).
-		SetNamespaceRegistryKey(kvconfig.NamespacesKey).
-		SetInitTimeout(cfgParams.NamespaceResolutionTimeout)
+		SetNamespaceRegistryKey(kvconfig.NamespacesKey)
 	nsInit := namespace.NewDynamicInitializer(dynamicOpts)
 
 	serviceID := services.NewServiceID().
@@ -167,8 +150,7 @@ func (c Configuration) configureDynamic(cfgParams ConfigurationParameters) (Conf
 		SetServiceID(serviceID).
 		SetQueryOptions(services.NewQueryOptions().SetIncludeUnhealthy(true)).
 		SetInstrumentOptions(cfgParams.InstrumentOpts).
-		SetHashGen(sharding.NewHashGenWithSeed(cfgParams.HashingSeed)).
-		SetInitTimeout(cfgParams.TopologyResolutionTimeout)
+		SetHashGen(sharding.NewHashGenWithSeed(cfgParams.HashingSeed))
 	topoInit := topology.NewDynamicInitializer(topoOpts)
 
 	kv, err := configSvcClient.KV()
diff --git a/src/dbnode/server/server.go b/src/dbnode/server/server.go
index 68a4f383d5..1db1004641 100644
--- a/src/dbnode/server/server.go
+++ b/src/dbnode/server/server.go
@@ -80,10 +80,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	bootstrapConfigInitTimeout        = 10 * time.Second
-	serverGracefulCloseTimeout        = 10 * time.Second
-	defaultNamespaceResolutionTimeout = time.Minute
-	defaultTopologyResolutionTimeout  = time.Minute
+	bootstrapConfigInitTimeout = 10 * time.Second
+	serverGracefulCloseTimeout = 10 * time.Second
 )
 
 // RunOptions provides options for running the server
@@ -378,21 +376,9 @@ func Run(runOpts RunOptions) {
 	if cfg.EnvironmentConfig.Static == nil {
 		logger.Info("creating dynamic config service client with m3cluster")
 
-		namespaceResolutionTimeout := cfg.EnvironmentConfig.NamespaceResolutionTimeout
-		if namespaceResolutionTimeout <= 0 {
-			namespaceResolutionTimeout = defaultNamespaceResolutionTimeout
-		}
-
-		topologyResolutionTimeout := cfg.EnvironmentConfig.TopologyResolutionTimeout
-		if topologyResolutionTimeout <= 0 {
-			topologyResolutionTimeout = defaultTopologyResolutionTimeout
-		}
-
 		envCfg, err = cfg.EnvironmentConfig.Configure(environment.ConfigurationParameters{
-			InstrumentOpts:             iopts,
-			HashingSeed:                cfg.Hashing.Seed,
-			NamespaceResolutionTimeout: namespaceResolutionTimeout,
-			TopologyResolutionTimeout:  topologyResolutionTimeout,
+			InstrumentOpts: iopts,
+			HashingSeed:    cfg.Hashing.Seed,
 		})
 		if err != nil {
 			logger.Fatalf("could not initialize dynamic config: %v", err)
diff --git a/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/dynamic.go b/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/dynamic.go
index 10496b48aa..9d0262f7c6 100644
--- a/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/dynamic.go
+++ b/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/dynamic.go
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	errInitTimeOut           = errors.New("timed out waiting for initial value")
 	errRegistryAlreadyClosed = errors.New("registry already closed")
 	errInvalidRegistry       = errors.New("could not parse latest value from config service")
 )
@@ -108,11 +107,10 @@ func newDynamicRegistry(opts DynamicOptions) (Registry, error) {
 	}
 
 	logger := opts.InstrumentOptions().Logger()
-	if err = waitOnInit(watch, opts.InitTimeout()); err != nil {
-		logger.Errorf("dynamic namespace registry initialization timed out in %s: %v",
-			opts.InitTimeout().String(), err)
-		return nil, err
-	}
+	logger.Info(`waiting for dynamic namespace registry initialization.
+		If this takes a long time, make sure that a namespace is configured`)
+	<-watch.C()
+	logger.Info("initial namespace value received")
 
 	initValue := watch.Get()
 	m, err := getMapFromUpdate(initValue)
@@ -238,18 +236,6 @@ func (r *dynamicRegistry) Close() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func waitOnInit(w kv.ValueWatch, d time.Duration) error {
-	if d <= 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-	select {
-	case <-w.C():
-		return nil
-	case <-time.After(d):
-		return errInitTimeOut
-	}
-}
-
 func getMapFromUpdate(val kv.Value) (Map, error) {
 	if val == nil {
 		return nil, errInvalidRegistry
diff --git a/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/dynamic_options.go b/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/dynamic_options.go
index a0d8323da9..60597d701e 100644
--- a/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/dynamic_options.go
+++ b/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/dynamic_options.go
@@ -97,13 +97,3 @@ func (o *dynamicOpts) SetNamespaceRegistryKey(k string) DynamicOptions {
 func (o *dynamicOpts) NamespaceRegistryKey() string {
 	return o.nsRegistryKey
 }
-
-func (o *dynamicOpts) SetInitTimeout(value time.Duration) DynamicOptions {
-	opts := *o
-	opts.initTimeout = value
-	return &opts
-}
-
-func (o *dynamicOpts) InitTimeout() time.Duration {
-	return o.initTimeout
-}
diff --git a/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/dynamic_test.go b/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/dynamic_test.go
index 83fc4e4df1..6930066361 100644
--- a/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/dynamic_test.go
+++ b/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/dynamic_test.go
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ func newTestOpts(t *testing.T, ctrl *gomock.Controller, watchable kv.ValueWatcha
 			instrument.NewOptions().
 				SetReportInterval(10 * time.Millisecond).
 				SetMetricsScope(ts)).
-		SetInitTimeout(100 * time.Millisecond).
 		SetConfigServiceClient(mockCSClient)
 
 	return opts
@@ -78,20 +77,6 @@ func currentVersionMetrics(opts DynamicOptions) float64 {
 	return g.Value()
 }
 
-func TestInitializerTimeout(t *testing.T) {
-	defer leaktest.CheckTimeout(t, time.Second)()
-
-	ctrl := gomock.NewController(t)
-	defer ctrl.Finish()
-
-	w := newTestWatchable(t, nil)
-	opts := newTestOpts(t, ctrl, w)
-	init := NewDynamicInitializer(opts)
-	_, err := init.Init()
-	require.Error(t, err)
-	require.Equal(t, errInitTimeOut, err)
-}
-
 func TestInitializerNoTimeout(t *testing.T) {
 	defer leaktest.CheckTimeout(t, time.Second)()
 
diff --git a/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/namespace_mock.go b/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/namespace_mock.go
index b487a4f704..fb8febd906 100644
--- a/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/namespace_mock.go
+++ b/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/namespace_mock.go
@@ -738,27 +738,3 @@ func (m *MockDynamicOptions) NamespaceRegistryKey() string {
 func (mr *MockDynamicOptionsMockRecorder) NamespaceRegistryKey() *gomock.Call {
 	return mr.mock.ctrl.RecordCallWithMethodType(mr.mock, "NamespaceRegistryKey", reflect.TypeOf((*MockDynamicOptions)(nil).NamespaceRegistryKey))
 }
-
-// SetInitTimeout mocks base method
-func (m *MockDynamicOptions) SetInitTimeout(value time.Duration) DynamicOptions {
-	ret := m.ctrl.Call(m, "SetInitTimeout", value)
-	ret0, _ := ret[0].(DynamicOptions)
-	return ret0
-}
-
-// SetInitTimeout indicates an expected call of SetInitTimeout
-func (mr *MockDynamicOptionsMockRecorder) SetInitTimeout(value interface{}) *gomock.Call {
-	return mr.mock.ctrl.RecordCallWithMethodType(mr.mock, "SetInitTimeout", reflect.TypeOf((*MockDynamicOptions)(nil).SetInitTimeout), value)
-}
-
-// InitTimeout mocks base method
-func (m *MockDynamicOptions) InitTimeout() time.Duration {
-	ret := m.ctrl.Call(m, "InitTimeout")
-	ret0, _ := ret[0].(time.Duration)
-	return ret0
-}
-
-// InitTimeout indicates an expected call of InitTimeout
-func (mr *MockDynamicOptionsMockRecorder) InitTimeout() *gomock.Call {
-	return mr.mock.ctrl.RecordCallWithMethodType(mr.mock, "InitTimeout", reflect.TypeOf((*MockDynamicOptions)(nil).InitTimeout))
-}
diff --git a/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/types.go b/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/types.go
index 16e82111e2..64f1764dac 100644
--- a/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/types.go
+++ b/src/dbnode/storage/namespace/types.go
@@ -182,10 +182,4 @@ type DynamicOptions interface {
 	// NamespaceRegistryKey returns the kv-store key used for the
 	// NamespaceRegistry
 	NamespaceRegistryKey() string
-
-	// SetInitTimeout sets the waiting time for dynamic topology to be initialized
-	SetInitTimeout(value time.Duration) DynamicOptions
-
-	// InitTimeout returns the waiting time for dynamic topology to be initialized
-	InitTimeout() time.Duration
 }
diff --git a/src/dbnode/topology/dynamic.go b/src/dbnode/topology/dynamic.go
index 722994f5bc..8c5cec651b 100644
--- a/src/dbnode/topology/dynamic.go
+++ b/src/dbnode/topology/dynamic.go
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ package topology
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"sync"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/m3db/m3/src/dbnode/sharding"
 	"github.com/m3db/m3cluster/placement"
@@ -34,7 +33,6 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	errInitTimeOut               = errors.New("timed out waiting for initial value")
 	errInvalidService            = errors.New("service topology is invalid")
 	errUnexpectedShard           = errors.New("shard is unexpected")
 	errMissingShard              = errors.New("shard is missing")
@@ -90,17 +88,16 @@ func newDynamicTopology(opts DynamicOptions) (DynamicTopology, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	watch, err := services.Watch(opts.ServiceID(), opts.QueryOptions())
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
 
 	logger := opts.InstrumentOptions().Logger()
-	if err = waitOnInit(watch, opts.InitTimeout()); err != nil {
-		logger.Errorf("dynamic topology initialization timed out in %s: %v",
-			opts.InitTimeout().String(), err)
+	logger.Info(`waiting for dynamic topology initialization.
+		If this takes a long time, make sure that a topology / placement is configured`)
+	watch, err := services.Watch(opts.ServiceID(), opts.QueryOptions())
+	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	<-watch.C()
+	logger.Info("initial topology / placement value received")
 
 	m, err := getMapFromUpdate(watch.Get(), opts.HashGen())
 	if err != nil {
@@ -185,19 +182,6 @@ func (t *dynamicTopology) MarkShardsAvailable(
 	return ps.MarkShardsAvailable(instanceID, shardIDs...)
 }
 
-func waitOnInit(w services.Watch, d time.Duration) error {
-	if d <= 0 {
-		<-w.C() // Wait for the first placement indefinitely
-		return nil
-	}
-	select {
-	case <-w.C():
-		return nil
-	case <-time.After(d):
-		return errInitTimeOut
-	}
-}
-
 func getMapFromUpdate(data interface{}, hashGen sharding.HashGen) (Map, error) {
 	service, ok := data.(services.Service)
 	if !ok {
diff --git a/src/dbnode/topology/dynamic_test.go b/src/dbnode/topology/dynamic_test.go
index f9521d4f44..6a6d019c05 100644
--- a/src/dbnode/topology/dynamic_test.go
+++ b/src/dbnode/topology/dynamic_test.go
@@ -54,16 +54,6 @@ func testFinish(ctrl *gomock.Controller, watch *testWatch) {
 	ctrl.Finish()
 }
 
-func TestInitTimeout(t *testing.T) {
-	ctrl := gomock.NewController(t)
-	opts, w := testSetup(ctrl)
-	defer testFinish(ctrl, w)
-
-	topo, err := newDynamicTopology(opts.SetInitTimeout(10 * time.Millisecond))
-	assert.Equal(t, errInitTimeOut, err)
-	assert.Nil(t, topo)
-}
-
 func TestInitNoTimeout(t *testing.T) {
 	ctrl := gomock.NewController(t)
 	opts, w := testSetup(ctrl)
diff --git a/src/dbnode/topology/options.go b/src/dbnode/topology/options.go
index 181850f717..af88fbcb0b 100644
--- a/src/dbnode/topology/options.go
+++ b/src/dbnode/topology/options.go
@@ -194,15 +194,6 @@ func (o *dynamicOptions) InstrumentOptions() instrument.Options {
 	return o.instrumentOptions
 }
 
-func (o *dynamicOptions) SetInitTimeout(value time.Duration) DynamicOptions {
-	o.initTimeout = value
-	return o
-}
-
-func (o *dynamicOptions) InitTimeout() time.Duration {
-	return o.initTimeout
-}
-
 func (o *dynamicOptions) SetHashGen(h sharding.HashGen) DynamicOptions {
 	o.hashGen = h
 	return o
diff --git a/src/dbnode/topology/topology_mock.go b/src/dbnode/topology/topology_mock.go
index 835408bb88..eadd373b43 100644
--- a/src/dbnode/topology/topology_mock.go
+++ b/src/dbnode/topology/topology_mock.go
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ package topology
 
 import (
 	"reflect"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/m3db/m3/src/dbnode/sharding"
 	"github.com/m3db/m3cluster/client"
@@ -790,30 +789,6 @@ func (mr *MockDynamicOptionsMockRecorder) InstrumentOptions() *gomock.Call {
 	return mr.mock.ctrl.RecordCallWithMethodType(mr.mock, "InstrumentOptions", reflect.TypeOf((*MockDynamicOptions)(nil).InstrumentOptions))
 }
 
-// SetInitTimeout mocks base method
-func (m *MockDynamicOptions) SetInitTimeout(value time.Duration) DynamicOptions {
-	ret := m.ctrl.Call(m, "SetInitTimeout", value)
-	ret0, _ := ret[0].(DynamicOptions)
-	return ret0
-}
-
-// SetInitTimeout indicates an expected call of SetInitTimeout
-func (mr *MockDynamicOptionsMockRecorder) SetInitTimeout(value interface{}) *gomock.Call {
-	return mr.mock.ctrl.RecordCallWithMethodType(mr.mock, "SetInitTimeout", reflect.TypeOf((*MockDynamicOptions)(nil).SetInitTimeout), value)
-}
-
-// InitTimeout mocks base method
-func (m *MockDynamicOptions) InitTimeout() time.Duration {
-	ret := m.ctrl.Call(m, "InitTimeout")
-	ret0, _ := ret[0].(time.Duration)
-	return ret0
-}
-
-// InitTimeout indicates an expected call of InitTimeout
-func (mr *MockDynamicOptionsMockRecorder) InitTimeout() *gomock.Call {
-	return mr.mock.ctrl.RecordCallWithMethodType(mr.mock, "InitTimeout", reflect.TypeOf((*MockDynamicOptions)(nil).InitTimeout))
-}
-
 // SetHashGen mocks base method
 func (m *MockDynamicOptions) SetHashGen(h sharding.HashGen) DynamicOptions {
 	ret := m.ctrl.Call(m, "SetHashGen", h)
diff --git a/src/dbnode/topology/types.go b/src/dbnode/topology/types.go
index 485ed15dda..cbb7d2e7f5 100644
--- a/src/dbnode/topology/types.go
+++ b/src/dbnode/topology/types.go
@@ -21,8 +21,6 @@
 package topology
 
 import (
-	"time"
-
 	"github.com/m3db/m3/src/dbnode/sharding"
 	"github.com/m3db/m3cluster/client"
 	"github.com/m3db/m3cluster/services"
@@ -205,12 +203,6 @@ type DynamicOptions interface {
 	// InstrumentOptions returns the instrumentation options
 	InstrumentOptions() instrument.Options
 
-	// SetInitTimeout sets the waiting time for dynamic topology to be initialized
-	SetInitTimeout(value time.Duration) DynamicOptions
-
-	// InitTimeout returns the waiting time for dynamic topology to be initialized
-	InitTimeout() time.Duration
-
 	// SetHashGen sets the HashGen function
 	SetHashGen(h sharding.HashGen) DynamicOptions