diff --git a/vxi11/rpc.py b/vxi11/rpc.py
index 9d889a6..d834465 100644
--- a/vxi11/rpc.py
+++ b/vxi11/rpc.py
@@ -257,6 +257,7 @@ def __init__(self, host, prog, vers, port):
 
     def connect(self):
         self.sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
+        self.sock.settimeout(2.0)
         self.sock.connect((self.host, self.port))
 
     def close(self):