diff --git a/docs/docs/configuration/server.rst b/docs/docs/configuration/server.rst
index 13507b7..7d752f0 100644
--- a/docs/docs/configuration/server.rst
+++ b/docs/docs/configuration/server.rst
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ also can moderate (=activate or delete) comments. Don't forget to configure
     security = starttls
     to =
     from =
+    timeout = 10
 
 username
     self-explanatory, optional
@@ -188,6 +189,10 @@ to
 from
     sender address, e.g. isso@example.tld
 
+timeout
+    specify a timeout in seconds for blocking operations like the
+    connection attempt.
+
 
 Guard
 -----
diff --git a/docs/isso.example.cfg b/docs/isso.example.cfg
index a7bedf0..afcfb8b 100644
--- a/docs/isso.example.cfg
+++ b/docs/isso.example.cfg
@@ -91,6 +91,10 @@ to =
 # sender address, e.g. isso@example.tld
 from =
 
+# specify a timeout in seconds for blocking operations like the
+# connection attempt.
+timeout = 10
+
 
 [guard]
 # Enable basic spam protection features, e.g. rate-limit per IP address (/24 for
diff --git a/isso/core.py b/isso/core.py
index ce2abf2..315a364 100644
--- a/isso/core.py
+++ b/isso/core.py
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ class Config:
         "username = ", "password = ",
         "host = localhost", "port = 587", "security = starttls",
         "to = ", "from = ",
+        "timeout = 10",
         "[guard]",
         "enabled = true",
         "ratelimit = 2",
diff --git a/isso/ext/notifications.py b/isso/ext/notifications.py
index ef9459a..72fe16e 100644
--- a/isso/ext/notifications.py
+++ b/isso/ext/notifications.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ class SMTP(object):
         klass = (smtplib.SMTP_SSL if self.conf.get('security') == 'ssl' else smtplib.SMTP)
         self.client = klass(host=self.conf.get('host'),
                             port=self.conf.getint('port'),
-                            timeout=5)
+                            timeout=self.conf.getint('timeout'))
 
         if self.conf.get('security') == 'starttls':
             self.client.starttls();