diff --git a/mwclient/client.py b/mwclient/client.py
index 617af8914bf62112e4ca650e25bd7508016e5aeb..4f39bb44fb92cd4e3feb6261a0d5709f75712235 100644
--- a/mwclient/client.py
+++ b/mwclient/client.py
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ class Site(object):
         self.max_lag = text_type(max_lag)
         self.force_login = force_login
         self.requests = reqs or {}
+        if 'timeout' not in self.requests:
+            self.requests['timeout'] = 30  # seconds
 
         if consumer_token is not None:
             auth = OAuth1(consumer_token, consumer_secret, access_token, access_secret)