diff --git a/pymongo/asynchronous/cursor.py b/pymongo/asynchronous/cursor.py
index 02954fb559..51efab4f43 100644
--- a/pymongo/asynchronous/cursor.py
+++ b/pymongo/asynchronous/cursor.py
@@ -767,6 +767,8 @@ async def explain(self) -> _DocumentType:
           :meth:`~pymongo.asynchronous.database.AsyncDatabase.command` to run the explain
           command directly.
 
+        .. note:: The timeout of this method can be set using :func:`pymongo.timeout`.
+
         .. seealso:: The MongoDB documentation on `explain <https://dochub.mongodb.org/core/explain>`_.
         """
         c = self.clone()
diff --git a/pymongo/synchronous/cursor.py b/pymongo/synchronous/cursor.py
index ba35316516..e49141e811 100644
--- a/pymongo/synchronous/cursor.py
+++ b/pymongo/synchronous/cursor.py
@@ -765,6 +765,8 @@ def explain(self) -> _DocumentType:
           :meth:`~pymongo.database.Database.command` to run the explain
           command directly.
 
+        .. note:: The timeout of this method can be set using :func:`pymongo.timeout`.
+
         .. seealso:: The MongoDB documentation on `explain <https://dochub.mongodb.org/core/explain>`_.
         """
         c = self.clone()
diff --git a/test/asynchronous/test_cursor.py b/test/asynchronous/test_cursor.py
index 8d2dbf532e..53b3289fb8 100644
--- a/test/asynchronous/test_cursor.py
+++ b/test/asynchronous/test_cursor.py
@@ -362,6 +362,24 @@ async def test_explain_with_read_concern(self):
         self.assertEqual(len(started), 1)
         self.assertNotIn("readConcern", started[0].command)
 
+    # https://github.com/mongodb/specifications/blob/master/source/crud/tests/README.md#14-explain-helpers-allow-users-to-specify-maxtimems
+    async def test_explain_csot(self):
+        # Create a MongoClient with command monitoring enabled (referred to as client).
+        listener = AllowListEventListener("explain")
+        client = await self.async_rs_or_single_client(event_listeners=[listener])
+
+        # Create a collection, referred to as collection, with the namespace explain-test.collection.
+        collection = client["explain-test"]["collection"]
+
+        # Run an explained find on collection. The find will have the query predicate { name: 'john doe' }. Specify a maxTimeMS value of 2000ms for the explain.
+        with pymongo.timeout(2.0):
+            self.assertTrue(await collection.find({"name": "john doe"}).explain())
+
+        # Obtain the command started event for the explain. Confirm that the top-level explain command should has a maxTimeMS value of 2000.
+        started = listener.started_events
+        self.assertEqual(len(started), 1)
+        assert 1500 < started[0].command["maxTimeMS"] <= 2000
+
     async def test_hint(self):
         db = self.db
         with self.assertRaises(TypeError):
diff --git a/test/test_cursor.py b/test/test_cursor.py
index 4902d9e4df..d0bd48e747 100644
--- a/test/test_cursor.py
+++ b/test/test_cursor.py
@@ -354,6 +354,24 @@ def test_explain_with_read_concern(self):
         self.assertEqual(len(started), 1)
         self.assertNotIn("readConcern", started[0].command)
 
+    # https://github.com/mongodb/specifications/blob/master/source/crud/tests/README.md#14-explain-helpers-allow-users-to-specify-maxtimems
+    def test_explain_csot(self):
+        # Create a MongoClient with command monitoring enabled (referred to as client).
+        listener = AllowListEventListener("explain")
+        client = self.rs_or_single_client(event_listeners=[listener])
+
+        # Create a collection, referred to as collection, with the namespace explain-test.collection.
+        collection = client["explain-test"]["collection"]
+
+        # Run an explained find on collection. The find will have the query predicate { name: 'john doe' }. Specify a maxTimeMS value of 2000ms for the explain.
+        with pymongo.timeout(2.0):
+            self.assertTrue(collection.find({"name": "john doe"}).explain())
+
+        # Obtain the command started event for the explain. Confirm that the top-level explain command should has a maxTimeMS value of 2000.
+        started = listener.started_events
+        self.assertEqual(len(started), 1)
+        assert 1500 < started[0].command["maxTimeMS"] <= 2000
+
     def test_hint(self):
         db = self.db
         with self.assertRaises(TypeError):