diff --git a/state.py b/state.py
index 17a9e35..86a7b0d 100644
--- a/state.py
+++ b/state.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import vars
 from helpers import unlink, err, debug2, debug3, mkdirp, close_on_exec
 
 SCHEMA_VER=7
+TIMEOUT=60
 
 _db = None
 def db():
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ def db():
     mkdirp(dbdir)
     must_create = not os.path.exists(dbfile)
     if not must_create:
-        _db = sqlite3.connect(dbfile)
+        _db = sqlite3.connect(dbfile, timeout=TIMEOUT)
         try:
             row = _db.cursor().execute("select version from Schema").fetchone()
         except sqlite3.OperationalError:
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ def db():
             _db = None
     if must_create:
         unlink(dbfile)
-        _db = sqlite3.connect(dbfile)
+        _db = sqlite3.connect(dbfile, timeout=TIMEOUT)
         _db.execute("create table Schema (version int)")
         _db.execute("create table Runid "
                     "    (id integer primary key autoincrement)")
diff --git a/t/flush-cache.sh b/t/flush-cache.sh
index 318838e..e464c96 100755
--- a/t/flush-cache.sh
+++ b/t/flush-cache.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 #echo "Flushing redo cache..." >&2
 (
+	echo ".timeout 5000"
 	echo "update Files set checked_runid=null;"
 	echo "update Files set changed_runid=changed_runid-1;"
 	#echo "update Files set stamp='dirty' where id in (select distinct target from Deps);"