diff --git a/pkg/command/options.go b/pkg/command/options.go
index 702db43..f0a5786 100644
--- a/pkg/command/options.go
+++ b/pkg/command/options.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ type Options struct {
 	SSLRootCert                  string `long:"ssl-rootcert" description:"SSL certificate authority file"`
 	SSLCert                      string `long:"ssl-cert" description:"SSL client certificate file"`
 	SSLKey                       string `long:"ssl-key" description:"SSL client certificate key file"`
+	OpenTimeout                  int    `long:"open-timeout" description:" Maximum wait for connection, in seconds" default:"30"`
 	HTTPHost                     string `long:"bind" description:"HTTP server host" default:"localhost"`
 	HTTPPort                     uint   `long:"listen" description:"HTTP server listen port" default:"8081"`
 	AuthUser                     string `long:"auth-user" description:"HTTP basic auth user"`
diff --git a/pkg/connection/connection_string.go b/pkg/connection/connection_string.go
index 4ed8e76..f5f22b1 100644
--- a/pkg/connection/connection_string.go
+++ b/pkg/connection/connection_string.go
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@ import (
 	neturl "net/url"
 	"os"
 	"os/user"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/jackc/pgpassfile"
+
 	"github.com/sosedoff/pgweb/pkg/command"
 )
 
@@ -88,6 +90,11 @@ func FormatURL(opts command.Options) (string, error) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Configure default connect timeout
+	if opts.OpenTimeout > 0 {
+		params["connect_timeout"] = strconv.Itoa(opts.OpenTimeout)
+	}
+
 	// Rebuild query params
 	query := neturl.Values{}
 	for k, v := range params {
@@ -142,6 +149,11 @@ func BuildStringFromOptions(opts command.Options) (string, error) {
 		opts.Pass = lookupPassword(opts, nil)
 	}
 
+	// Configure default connect timeout
+	if opts.OpenTimeout > 0 {
+		query.Add("connect_timeout", strconv.Itoa(opts.OpenTimeout))
+	}
+
 	url := neturl.URL{
 		Scheme:   "postgres",
 		Host:     fmt.Sprintf("%v:%v", opts.Host, opts.Port),
diff --git a/pkg/connection/connection_string_test.go b/pkg/connection/connection_string_test.go
index 4e656fa..e54b26b 100644
--- a/pkg/connection/connection_string_test.go
+++ b/pkg/connection/connection_string_test.go
@@ -173,6 +173,28 @@ func TestBuildStringFromOptions(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.Equal(t, "postgres://foobar:password2@127.0.0.1:5432/foobar2?sslmode=disable", str)
 	})
 
+	t.Run("with connection timeout", func(t *testing.T) {
+		opts := command.Options{
+			URL:         "postgres://user:pass@localhost:5432/dbname",
+			OpenTimeout: 30,
+		}
+		str, err := BuildStringFromOptions(opts)
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, "postgres://user:pass@localhost:5432/dbname?connect_timeout=30&sslmode=disable", str)
+
+		opts = command.Options{
+			Host:        "localhost",
+			Port:        5432,
+			User:        "username",
+			DbName:      "dbname",
+			OpenTimeout: 30,
+		}
+
+		str, err = BuildStringFromOptions(opts)
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, "postgres://username:@localhost:5432/dbname?connect_timeout=30&sslmode=disable", str)
+	})
+
 	t.Run("invalid url", func(t *testing.T) {
 		opts := command.Options{}
 		examples := []string{
@@ -231,6 +253,14 @@ func TestFormatURL(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			result: "postgres://username:password@localhost:5432/dbname?sslmode=disable",
 		},
+		{
+			name: "with timeout setting",
+			input: command.Options{
+				URL:         "postgres://username@localhost:5432/dbname",
+				OpenTimeout: 30,
+			},
+			result: "postgres://username@localhost:5432/dbname?connect_timeout=30&sslmode=disable",
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, ex := range examples {