diff --git a/usr.bin/rsh/rsh.c b/usr.bin/rsh/rsh.c
index 394a19b96e3..0b52be417f0 100644
--- a/usr.bin/rsh/rsh.c
+++ b/usr.bin/rsh/rsh.c
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ int	rfd2;
 int family = PF_UNSPEC;
 char rlogin[] = "rlogin";
 
+void	connect_timeout(int);
 char   *copyargs(char * const *);
 void	sendsig(int);
 void	talk(int, long, pid_t, int, int);
@@ -287,8 +288,16 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 			      &rfd2, family);
 	}
 #else
+	if (timeout) {
+		signal(SIGALRM, connect_timeout);
+		alarm(timeout);
+	}
 	rem = rcmd_af(&host, sp->s_port, pw->pw_name, user, args, &rfd2,
 		      family);
+	if (timeout) {
+		signal(SIGALRM, SIG_DFL);
+		alarm(0);
+	}
 #endif
 
 	if (rem < 0)
@@ -449,6 +458,15 @@ reread:		errno = 0;
 	} while (FD_ISSET(rfd2, &readfrom) || FD_ISSET(rem, &readfrom));
 }
 
+void
+connect_timeout(int sig)
+{
+	char message[] = "timeout reached before connection completed.\n";
+
+	write(STDERR_FILENO, message, sizeof(message) - 1);
+	_exit(1);
+}
+
 void
 sendsig(int sig)
 {