diff --git a/bigbluebutton_api_python/bigbluebutton.py b/bigbluebutton_api_python/bigbluebutton.py
index b300cbf..02b31a5 100644
--- a/bigbluebutton_api_python/bigbluebutton.py
+++ b/bigbluebutton_api_python/bigbluebutton.py
@@ -132,9 +132,9 @@ def __send_api_request(self, api_call, params={}, data=None):
 
         # if data is none, then we send a GET request, if not, then we send a POST request
         if data is None:
-            response = urlopen(url).read()
+            response = urlopen(url, timeout=10).read()
         else:
-            response = urlopen(url, data=urlencode(data).encode()).read()
+            response = urlopen(url, timeout=10, data=urlencode(data).encode()).read()
 
         try:
             rawXml = parse(response)["response"]