A method for configuring an adaptable circuit breaker chain in a microservices architecture includes transmitting a request from an upstream service to a target one of the services and receiving in a circuit breaker of the upstream service a response from a circuit breaker of the target indicating an inability to provide a response to the transmitted request and including meta-data describing an attempt by the circuit breaker of the target to receive a response from the downstream service to an underlying request of the target necessary to provide a response to the request transmitted by the upstream service. Finally, on condition that the meta-data indicates a delay by the circuit breaker of the target incurred in receiving a response to the underlying request, the method includes changing a pattern of delay imposed by the circuit breaker of the upstream service from a default pattern of delay.