diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 93831e2..f7c4fa1 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -182,6 +182,7 @@
               - available_when_readonly=0
           check_random_exit:
             interval: 10
+            timeout: 5
             content: |
               #!/bin/bash
               exit $(($RANDOM%2))
diff --git a/keepalived/files/keepalived.conf b/keepalived/files/keepalived.conf
index e70334b..190f22a 100644
--- a/keepalived/files/keepalived.conf
+++ b/keepalived/files/keepalived.conf
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
   interval {{ script.get('interval', 2) }} # check every Ns
   fall {{ script.get('fall', 2) }}   # require N failures for KO
   rise {{ script.get('rise', 2) }}   # require N successes for OK
+  {% if script.timeout is defined %}timeout {{ script.timeout }} # default timeout for script {% endif %}
   {% if script.weight is defined %}weight {{ script.weight }}{% endif %}
 }
 {%- endfor %}
diff --git a/tests/pillar/keepalived_cluster.sls b/tests/pillar/keepalived_cluster.sls
index 2035d90..e4ae67e 100644
--- a/tests/pillar/keepalived_cluster.sls
+++ b/tests/pillar/keepalived_cluster.sls
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@
           - haproxy
       check_random_exit:
         interval: 10
+        timeout: 5
         content: |
           #!/bin/bash
           exit $(($RANDOM%2))