diff --git a/provider/mqtt.go b/provider/mqtt.go
index c722e15f3..a92a88b7c 100644
--- a/provider/mqtt.go
+++ b/provider/mqtt.go
@@ -2,14 +2,12 @@ package provider
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"math"
 	"regexp"
-	"strconv"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/provider/mqtt"
 	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/util"
-	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/util/jq"
+	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/util/request"
 	"github.com/itchyny/gojq"
 )
 
@@ -115,17 +113,30 @@ func (m *Mqtt) WithJq(jq string) (*Mqtt, error) {
 
 var _ FloatProvider = (*Mqtt)(nil)
 
-// FloatGetter creates handler for float64 from MQTT topic that returns cached value
-func (m *Mqtt) FloatGetter() func() (float64, error) {
+// newReceiver creates a msgHandler and subscribes it to the topic.
+// receiver will ensure actual data guarded by `timeout` and return error
+// if initial value is not received within `timeout` or max. 10s if timeout is not given.
+func (m *Mqtt) newReceiver() *msgHandler {
+	wait := m.timeout
+	if wait == 0 {
+		wait = request.Timeout
+	}
+
 	h := &msgHandler{
 		topic: m.topic,
 		scale: m.scale,
-		mux:   util.NewWaiter(m.timeout, func() { m.log.DEBUG.Printf("%s wait for initial value", m.topic) }),
+		mux:   util.NewWaiter(wait, func() { m.log.DEBUG.Printf("%s wait for initial value", m.topic) }),
 		re:    m.re,
 		jq:    m.jq,
 	}
 
 	m.client.Listen(m.topic, h.receive)
+	return h
+}
+
+// FloatGetter creates handler for float64 from MQTT topic that returns cached value
+func (m *Mqtt) FloatGetter() func() (float64, error) {
+	h := m.newReceiver()
 	return h.floatGetter
 }
 
@@ -133,15 +144,7 @@ var _ IntProvider = (*Mqtt)(nil)
 
 // IntGetter creates handler for int64 from MQTT topic that returns cached value
 func (m *Mqtt) IntGetter() func() (int64, error) {
-	h := &msgHandler{
-		topic: m.topic,
-		scale: m.scale,
-		mux:   util.NewWaiter(m.timeout, func() { m.log.DEBUG.Printf("%s wait for initial value", m.topic) }),
-		re:    m.re,
-		jq:    m.jq,
-	}
-
-	m.client.Listen(m.topic, h.receive)
+	h := m.newReceiver()
 	return h.intGetter
 }
 
@@ -149,14 +152,7 @@ var _ StringProvider = (*Mqtt)(nil)
 
 // StringGetter creates handler for string from MQTT topic that returns cached value
 func (m *Mqtt) StringGetter() func() (string, error) {
-	h := &msgHandler{
-		topic: m.topic,
-		mux:   util.NewWaiter(m.timeout, func() { m.log.DEBUG.Printf("%s wait for initial value", m.topic) }),
-		re:    m.re,
-		jq:    m.jq,
-	}
-
-	m.client.Listen(m.topic, h.receive)
+	h := m.newReceiver()
 	return h.stringGetter
 }
 
@@ -164,14 +160,7 @@ var _ BoolProvider = (*Mqtt)(nil)
 
 // BoolGetter creates handler for string from MQTT topic that returns cached value
 func (m *Mqtt) BoolGetter() func() (bool, error) {
-	h := &msgHandler{
-		topic: m.topic,
-		mux:   util.NewWaiter(m.timeout, func() { m.log.DEBUG.Printf("%s wait for initial value", m.topic) }),
-		re:    m.re,
-		jq:    m.jq,
-	}
-
-	m.client.Listen(m.topic, h.receive)
+	h := m.newReceiver()
 	return h.boolGetter
 }
 
@@ -216,85 +205,3 @@ func (m *Mqtt) StringSetter(param string) func(string) error {
 		return m.client.Publish(m.topic, false, payload)
 	}
 }
-
-type msgHandler struct {
-	mux     *util.Waiter
-	scale   float64
-	topic   string
-	payload string
-	re      *regexp.Regexp
-	jq      *gojq.Query
-}
-
-func (h *msgHandler) receive(payload string) {
-	h.mux.Lock()
-	defer h.mux.Unlock()
-
-	h.payload = payload
-	h.mux.Update()
-}
-
-func (h *msgHandler) hasValue() (string, error) {
-	elapsed := h.mux.LockWithTimeout()
-	defer h.mux.Unlock()
-
-	if elapsed > 0 {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("%s outdated: %v", h.topic, elapsed.Truncate(time.Second))
-	}
-
-	var err error
-	payload := h.payload
-
-	if h.re != nil {
-		m := h.re.FindStringSubmatch(payload)
-		if len(m) > 1 {
-			payload = m[1] // first submatch
-		}
-	}
-
-	if h.jq != nil {
-		var val interface{}
-		if val, err = jq.Query(h.jq, []byte(payload)); err == nil {
-			payload = fmt.Sprintf("%v", val)
-		}
-	}
-
-	return payload, err
-}
-
-func (h *msgHandler) floatGetter() (float64, error) {
-	v, err := h.hasValue()
-	if err != nil {
-		return 0, err
-	}
-
-	f, err := strconv.ParseFloat(v, 64)
-	if err != nil {
-		return 0, fmt.Errorf("%s invalid: '%s'", h.topic, v)
-	}
-
-	return f * h.scale, nil
-}
-
-func (h *msgHandler) intGetter() (int64, error) {
-	f, err := h.floatGetter()
-	return int64(math.Round(f)), err
-}
-
-func (h *msgHandler) stringGetter() (string, error) {
-	v, err := h.hasValue()
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
-	}
-
-	return string(v), nil
-}
-
-func (h *msgHandler) boolGetter() (bool, error) {
-	v, err := h.hasValue()
-	if err != nil {
-		return false, err
-	}
-
-	return util.Truish(v), nil
-}
diff --git a/provider/mqtt_handler.go b/provider/mqtt_handler.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..70144f5ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/provider/mqtt_handler.go
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+package provider
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"math"
+	"regexp"
+	"strconv"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/util"
+	"github.com/evcc-io/evcc/util/jq"
+	"github.com/itchyny/gojq"
+)
+
+type msgHandler struct {
+	mux     *util.Waiter
+	scale   float64
+	topic   string
+	payload string
+	re      *regexp.Regexp
+	jq      *gojq.Query
+}
+
+func (h *msgHandler) receive(payload string) {
+	h.mux.Lock()
+	defer h.mux.Unlock()
+
+	h.payload = payload
+	h.mux.Update()
+}
+
+// hasValue returned the received and processed payload as string
+func (h *msgHandler) hasValue() (string, error) {
+	elapsed := h.mux.LockWithTimeout()
+	defer h.mux.Unlock()
+
+	if elapsed > 0 {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("%s outdated: %v", h.topic, elapsed.Truncate(time.Second))
+	}
+
+	var err error
+	payload := h.payload
+
+	if h.re != nil {
+		m := h.re.FindStringSubmatch(payload)
+		if len(m) > 1 {
+			payload = m[1] // first submatch
+		}
+	}
+
+	if h.jq != nil {
+		var val interface{}
+		if val, err = jq.Query(h.jq, []byte(payload)); err == nil {
+			payload = fmt.Sprintf("%v", val)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return payload, err
+}
+
+func (h *msgHandler) floatGetter() (float64, error) {
+	v, err := h.hasValue()
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+
+	f, err := strconv.ParseFloat(v, 64)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("%s invalid: '%s'", h.topic, v)
+	}
+
+	return f * h.scale, nil
+}
+
+func (h *msgHandler) intGetter() (int64, error) {
+	f, err := h.floatGetter()
+	return int64(math.Round(f)), err
+}
+
+func (h *msgHandler) stringGetter() (string, error) {
+	v, err := h.hasValue()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	return string(v), nil
+}
+
+func (h *msgHandler) boolGetter() (bool, error) {
+	v, err := h.hasValue()
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+
+	return util.Truish(v), nil
+}