diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a309116..405038d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ Sample configuration:
   AppConfig[:marcao_sftp_user] = 'a_user'
   AppConfig[:marcao_sftp_password] = 'secret password'
   AppConfig[:marcao_sftp_path] = '/remote/path'
+  AppConfig[:marcao_sftp_timeout] = 30
 ```
 
 ### marcao_schedule
@@ -86,6 +87,9 @@ The password to authenticate with on the SFTP server.
 ### marcao_sftp_path
 The path on the SFTP server to upload the exported records to.
 
+### marcao_sftp_timeout
+Timeout in seconds to use when connecting to the SFTP server (default 30).
+
 
 ## Report
 
diff --git a/backend/model/marc_ao_exporter.rb b/backend/model/marc_ao_exporter.rb
index 25ba156..ebfe66a 100644
--- a/backend/model/marc_ao_exporter.rb
+++ b/backend/model/marc_ao_exporter.rb
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ def self.run
             Log.info("marcao: Retrying SFTP upload (retry number #{retry_count})")
           end
 
-          Net::SFTP.start(AppConfig[:marcao_sftp_host], AppConfig[:marcao_sftp_user], { password: AppConfig[:marcao_sftp_password] }) do |sftp|
+          Net::SFTP.start(AppConfig[:marcao_sftp_host], AppConfig[:marcao_sftp_user],
+                          { password: AppConfig[:marcao_sftp_password], timeout: AppConfig[:marcao_sftp_timeout] }) do |sftp|
             sftp.upload!(export_file_path, File.join(AppConfig[:marcao_sftp_path], File.basename(export_file_path)))
           end
           break
diff --git a/backend/plugin_init.rb b/backend/plugin_init.rb
index 7da7233..aaba466 100644
--- a/backend/plugin_init.rb
+++ b/backend/plugin_init.rb
@@ -12,6 +12,13 @@
     AppConfig.has_key?(:marcao_sftp_user) &&
     AppConfig.has_key?(:marcao_sftp_password) &&
     AppConfig.has_key?(:marcao_sftp_path)
+  if AppConfig.has_key?(:marcao_sftp_timeout)
+    unless AppConfig[:marcao_sftp_timeout].is_a?(Integer)
+      raise "marcao plugin configuration error: AppConfig[:marcao_sftp_timeout] must be an integer."
+    end
+  else
+    AppConfig[:marcao_sftp_timeout] = 30
+  end
   AppConfig[:marcao_sftp_enabled] = true
 else
   AppConfig[:marcao_sftp_enabled] = false