diff --git a/connection.go b/connection.go
index 2da7e84..a91893d 100644
--- a/connection.go
+++ b/connection.go
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ func (ae *Exporter) connected() bool {
 	return atomic.LoadInt32(&ae.connectionState) == sConnected
 }
 
-const defaultConnReattemptPeriod = 5000 * time.Millisecond
+const defaultConnReattemptPeriod = 10 * time.Second
 
 func (ae *Exporter) indefiniteBackgroundConnection() error {
 	defer func() {
diff --git a/load_test.go b/load_test.go
index 68837a7..5e5f227 100644
--- a/load_test.go
+++ b/load_test.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"
 
@@ -74,6 +75,7 @@ func TestExportsUnderLoad_issue13(t *testing.T) {
 	exporter, err := ocagent.NewExporter(
 		ocagent.WithInsecure(),
 		ocagent.WithServiceName("go-app"),
+		ocagent.WithReconnectionPeriod(50*time.Millisecond),
 		ocagent.WithAddress(agentAddr))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to create the agent exporter: %v", err)
diff --git a/ocagent_test.go b/ocagent_test.go
index 43ec51f..8189e85 100644
--- a/ocagent_test.go
+++ b/ocagent_test.go
@@ -36,7 +36,10 @@ func TestNewExporter_endToEnd(t *testing.T) {
 	defer ma.stop()
 
 	serviceName := "endToEnd_test"
-	exp, err := ocagent.NewExporter(ocagent.WithInsecure(), ocagent.WithAddress(ma.address), ocagent.WithServiceName(serviceName))
+	exp, err := ocagent.NewExporter(ocagent.WithInsecure(),
+		ocagent.WithAddress(ma.address),
+		ocagent.WithReconnectionPeriod(50*time.Millisecond),
+		ocagent.WithServiceName(serviceName))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to create a new agent exporter: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -208,7 +211,9 @@ func TestNewExporter_invokeStartThenStopManyTimes(t *testing.T) {
 	ma := runMockAgent(t)
 	defer ma.stop()
 
-	exp, err := ocagent.NewExporter(ocagent.WithInsecure(), ocagent.WithAddress(ma.address))
+	exp, err := ocagent.NewExporter(ocagent.WithInsecure(),
+		ocagent.WithReconnectionPeriod(50*time.Millisecond),
+		ocagent.WithAddress(ma.address))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Surprisingly connected with a bad port")
 	}
@@ -301,7 +306,9 @@ func TestNewExporter_agentOnBadConnection(t *testing.T) {
 	_, agentPortStr, _ := net.SplitHostPort(ln.Addr().String())
 
 	address := fmt.Sprintf("localhost:%s", agentPortStr)
-	exp, err := ocagent.NewExporter(ocagent.WithInsecure(), ocagent.WithAddress(address))
+	exp, err := ocagent.NewExporter(ocagent.WithInsecure(),
+		ocagent.WithReconnectionPeriod(50*time.Millisecond),
+		ocagent.WithAddress(address))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Despite an indefinite background reconnection, got error: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -312,7 +319,10 @@ func TestNewExporter_withAddress(t *testing.T) {
 	ma := runMockAgent(t)
 	defer ma.stop()
 
-	exp, err := ocagent.NewUnstartedExporter(ocagent.WithInsecure(), ocagent.WithAddress(ma.address))
+	exp, err := ocagent.NewUnstartedExporter(
+		ocagent.WithInsecure(),
+		ocagent.WithReconnectionPeriod(50*time.Millisecond),
+		ocagent.WithAddress(ma.address))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Surprisingly connected with a bad port")
 	}
diff --git a/transform_spans_test.go b/transform_spans_test.go
index 67c610f..ede86e5 100644
--- a/transform_spans_test.go
+++ b/transform_spans_test.go
@@ -35,7 +35,10 @@ func TestOCSpanToProtoSpan_endToEnd(t *testing.T) {
 	defer agent.stop()
 
 	serviceName := "spanTranslation"
-	exp, err := ocagent.NewExporter(ocagent.WithInsecure(), ocagent.WithAddress(agent.address), ocagent.WithServiceName(serviceName))
+	exp, err := ocagent.NewExporter(ocagent.WithInsecure(),
+		ocagent.WithAddress(agent.address),
+		ocagent.WithReconnectionPeriod(50*time.Millisecond),
+		ocagent.WithServiceName(serviceName))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to create a new agent exporter: %v", err)
 	}