diff --git a/ports/zephyr-cp/common-hal/busio/UART.c b/ports/zephyr-cp/common-hal/busio/UART.c
index 97ab44bb8c1..d7b1678bd9b 100644
--- a/ports/zephyr-cp/common-hal/busio/UART.c
+++ b/ports/zephyr-cp/common-hal/busio/UART.c
@@ -254,20 +254,28 @@ void common_hal_busio_uart_set_baudrate(busio_uart_obj_t *self, uint32_t baudrat
     uart_configure(self->uart_device, &config);
 }
 
+// K_FOREVER reads as -1, which usb_cdc reports as None.
+static mp_float_t timeout_to_seconds(k_timeout_t timeout) {
+    if (K_TIMEOUT_EQ(timeout, K_FOREVER)) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+    return (mp_float_t)k_ticks_to_us_floor64(timeout.ticks) / MICROPY_FLOAT_CONST(1000000.0);
+}
+
 mp_float_t common_hal_busio_uart_get_timeout(busio_uart_obj_t *self) {
-    return (mp_float_t)self->timeout.ticks / 1000000.0;
+    return timeout_to_seconds(self->timeout);
 }
 
 void common_hal_busio_uart_set_timeout(busio_uart_obj_t *self, mp_float_t timeout) {
-    self->timeout = K_USEC((uint64_t)(timeout * 1000000));
+    self->timeout = timeout < 0 ? K_FOREVER : K_USEC((uint64_t)(timeout * 1000000));
 }
 
 mp_float_t common_hal_busio_uart_get_write_timeout(busio_uart_obj_t *self) {
-    return (mp_float_t)self->write_timeout.ticks / 1000000.0;
+    return timeout_to_seconds(self->write_timeout);
 }
 
 void common_hal_busio_uart_set_write_timeout(busio_uart_obj_t *self, mp_float_t write_timeout) {
-    self->write_timeout = K_USEC((uint64_t)(write_timeout * 1000000));
+    self->write_timeout = write_timeout < 0 ? K_FOREVER : K_USEC((uint64_t)(write_timeout * 1000000));
 }
 
 uint32_t common_hal_busio_uart_rx_characters_available(busio_uart_obj_t *self) {
diff --git a/ports/zephyr-cp/tests/test_busio_uart.py b/ports/zephyr-cp/tests/test_busio_uart.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9d5a044e3ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ports/zephyr-cp/tests/test_busio_uart.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2026 Mikey Sklar for Adafruit Industries
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+
+"""busio.UART on native_sim, through the console UART."""
+
+import pytest
+
+TIMEOUT_CODE = """\
+import board
+
+uart = board.UART0()
+for t in (0.5, 2, 0):
+    uart.timeout = t
+    print("timeout", uart.timeout)
+print("done")
+"""
+
+
+@pytest.mark.circuitpy_drive({"code.py": TIMEOUT_CODE})
+def test_uart_timeout_reads_back_in_seconds(circuitpython):
+    """timeout reads back the seconds it was set to, not raw kernel ticks."""
+    circuitpython.wait_until_done()
+
+    output = circuitpython.serial.all_output
+    assert "timeout 0.5" in output
+    assert "timeout 2.0" in output
+    assert "timeout 0.0" in output
+    assert "done" in output