diff --git a/src/bootstrap/bootstrap.py b/src/bootstrap/bootstrap.py
index 71c1c61e3d9..829487163a9 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/bootstrap.py
+++ b/src/bootstrap/bootstrap.py
@@ -88,7 +88,10 @@ def _download(path, url, probably_big, verbose, exception):
             option = "-#"
         else:
             option = "-s"
-        run(["curl", option, "--retry", "3", "-Sf", "-o", path, url],
+        run(["curl", option,
+             "-y", "30", "-Y", "10",    # timeout if speed is < 10 bytes/sec for > 30 seconds
+             "--connect-timeout", "30", # timeout if cannot connect within 30 seconds
+             "--retry", "3", "-Sf", "-o", path, url],
             verbose=verbose,
             exception=exception)