diff --git a/plugins/input/postgis/connection.hpp b/plugins/input/postgis/connection.hpp
index c5f163f16..b9c91e8ce 100644
--- a/plugins/input/postgis/connection.hpp
+++ b/plugins/input/postgis/connection.hpp
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ public:
         connStr+=" dbname="+dbname;
         connStr+=" user="+username;
         connStr+=" password="+password;
+        connStr+=" connect_timeout=4"; // todo: set by client (param) 
         
         conn_=PQconnectdb(connStr.c_str());
         if (PQstatus(conn_) == CONNECTION_BAD)
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ public:
                       << PQerrorMessage(conn_)<< std::endl;
         }
     }
+    
     bool execute(const std::string& sql) const
     {
         PGresult *result=PQexec(conn_,sql.c_str());