diff --git a/arguments.go b/arguments.go
index 7fde176..509fe03 100644
--- a/arguments.go
+++ b/arguments.go
@@ -1,17 +1,24 @@
 package main
 
-import "github.com/docopt/docopt-go"
+import (
+	"strconv"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/docopt/docopt-go"
+)
 
 const usage = `Link checker for Markdown and HTML
 
 Usage:
-	linkcheck [-v] <filenames>...
+	linkcheck [-t <timeout>] [-v] <filenames>...
 
 Options:
-	-v, --verbose  Be verbose`
+	-v, --verbose  Be verbose
+	-t, --timeout <timeout>  Set timeout for HTTP requests in seconds [default: 5]`
 
 type arguments struct {
 	filenames []string
+	timeout   time.Duration
 	verbose   bool
 }
 
@@ -22,5 +29,15 @@ func getArgs() (arguments, error) {
 		return arguments{}, err
 	}
 
-	return arguments{args["<filenames>"].([]string), args["--verbose"].(bool)}, nil
+	f, err := strconv.ParseFloat(args["--timeout"].(string), 64)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return arguments{}, err
+	}
+
+	return arguments{
+		args["<filenames>"].([]string),
+		time.Duration(f) * time.Second,
+		args["--verbose"].(bool),
+	}, nil
 }
diff --git a/examples/markdown.feature b/examples/markdown.feature
index d600a4a..ab7f9b0 100644
--- a/examples/markdown.feature
+++ b/examples/markdown.feature
@@ -104,3 +104,11 @@ Feature: Markdown
     """
     When I successfully run `sh foo.sh`
     Then the stdout should contain exactly "5"
+
+  Scenario: Check a markdown file which contains a live link with timeout
+    Given a file named "foo.md" with:
+    """
+    [Google](https://google.com)
+    """
+    When I successfully run `linkcheck --timeout 10 foo.md`
+    Then the stdout should contain exactly ""
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 0d02371..74f2abd 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 package main
 
-import (
-	"os"
-	"time"
-)
+import "os"
 
 func main() {
 	args, err := getArgs()
@@ -15,7 +12,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	fs := args.filenames
 	rc := make(chan fileResult, len(fs))
-	c := newFileChecker(5 * time.Second)
+	c := newFileChecker(args.timeout)
 
 	go c.CheckMany(fs, rc)