diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f07d212..6918ff5 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -47,4 +47,7 @@ venv.bak/
 
 # Test/config
 quick.py
-config.toml
\ No newline at end of file
+config.toml
+obsws.log
+
+.vscode/
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6fa8c6b..4ae670b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ By default the clients connect with parameters:
 -   `host`: "localhost"
 -   `port`: 4455
 -   `password`: ""
+-   `timeout`: None
 
 You may override these parameters by storing them in a toml config file or passing them as keyword arguments.
 
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ Example `__main__.py`:
 import obsws_python as obs
 
 # pass conn info if not in config.toml
-cl = obs.ReqClient(host='localhost', port=4455, password='mystrongpass')
+cl = obs.ReqClient(host='localhost', port=4455, password='mystrongpass', timeout=3)
 
 # Toggle the mute state of your Mic input
 cl.toggle_input_mute('Mic/Aux')
@@ -131,6 +132,8 @@ If a request fails an `OBSSDKError` will be raised with a status code.
 
 For a full list of status codes refer to [Codes](https://github.com/obsproject/obs-websocket/blob/master/docs/generated/protocol.md#requeststatus)
 
+If a timeout occurs during sending/receiving a request or receiving an event an `OBSSDKTimeoutError` will be raised.
+
 ### Logging
 
 If you want to see the raw messages simply set log level to DEBUG
diff --git a/obsws_python/baseclient.py b/obsws_python/baseclient.py
index 10e9d12..4f47d4b 100644
--- a/obsws_python/baseclient.py
+++ b/obsws_python/baseclient.py
@@ -7,15 +7,22 @@ from random import randint
 from typing import Optional
 
 import websocket
+from websocket import WebSocketTimeoutException
 
-from .error import OBSSDKError
+from .error import OBSSDKError, OBSSDKTimeoutError
 
 
 class ObsClient:
     logger = logging.getLogger("baseclient.obsclient")
 
     def __init__(self, **kwargs):
-        defaultkwargs = {"host": "localhost", "port": 4455, "password": "", "subs": 0}
+        defaultkwargs = {
+            "host": "localhost",
+            "port": 4455,
+            "password": "",
+            "subs": 0,
+            "timeout": None,
+        }
         if not any(key in kwargs for key in ("host", "port", "password")):
             kwargs |= self._conn_from_toml()
         kwargs = defaultkwargs | kwargs
@@ -23,14 +30,21 @@ class ObsClient:
             setattr(self, attr, val)
 
         self.logger.info(
-            "Connecting with parameters: host='{host}' port={port} password='{password}' subs={subs}".format(
+            "Connecting with parameters: host='{host}' port={port} password='{password}' subs={subs} timeout={timeout}".format(
                 **self.__dict__
             )
         )
 
-        self.ws = websocket.WebSocket()
-        self.ws.connect(f"ws://{self.host}:{self.port}")
-        self.server_hello = json.loads(self.ws.recv())
+        try:
+            self.ws = websocket.WebSocket()
+            self.ws.connect(f"ws://{self.host}:{self.port}", timeout=self.timeout)
+            self.server_hello = json.loads(self.ws.recv())
+        except ValueError as e:
+            self.logger.error(f"{type(e).__name__}: {e}")
+            raise
+        except (ConnectionRefusedError, WebSocketTimeoutException) as e:
+            self.logger.exception(f"{type(e).__name__}: {e}")
+            raise
 
     def _conn_from_toml(self) -> dict:
         try:
@@ -105,7 +119,11 @@ class ObsClient:
         if req_data:
             payload["d"]["requestData"] = req_data
         self.logger.debug(f"Sending request {payload}")
-        self.ws.send(json.dumps(payload))
-        response = json.loads(self.ws.recv())
+        try:
+            self.ws.send(json.dumps(payload))
+            response = json.loads(self.ws.recv())
+        except WebSocketTimeoutException as e:
+            self.logger.exception(f"{type(e).__name__}: {e}")
+            raise OBSSDKTimeoutError("Timeout while trying to send the request") from e
         self.logger.debug(f"Response received {response}")
         return response["d"]
diff --git a/obsws_python/error.py b/obsws_python/error.py
index 67885a4..42719b1 100644
--- a/obsws_python/error.py
+++ b/obsws_python/error.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 class OBSSDKError(Exception):
-    """general errors"""
+    """Exception raised when general errors occur"""
 
-    pass
+
+class OBSSDKTimeoutError(Exception):
+    """Exception raised when a connection times out"""
diff --git a/obsws_python/events.py b/obsws_python/events.py
index 9a942e6..a358fe7 100644
--- a/obsws_python/events.py
+++ b/obsws_python/events.py
@@ -3,8 +3,11 @@ import logging
 import time
 from threading import Thread
 
+from websocket import WebSocketTimeoutException
+
 from .baseclient import ObsClient
 from .callback import Callback
+from .error import OBSSDKTimeoutError
 from .subs import Subs
 
 """
@@ -30,7 +33,7 @@ class EventClient:
     def __repr__(self):
         return type(
             self
-        ).__name__ + "(host='{host}', port={port}, password='{password}', subs={subs})".format(
+        ).__name__ + "(host='{host}', port={port}, password='{password}', subs={subs}, timeout={timeout})".format(
             **self.base_client.__dict__,
         )
 
@@ -49,7 +52,11 @@ class EventClient:
         """
         self.running = True
         while self.running:
-            event = json.loads(self.base_client.ws.recv())
+            try:
+                event = json.loads(self.base_client.ws.recv())
+            except WebSocketTimeoutException as e:
+                self.logger.exception(f"{type(e).__name__}: {e}")
+                raise OBSSDKTimeoutError("Timeout while waiting for event") from e
             self.logger.debug(f"Event received {event}")
             type_, data = (
                 event["d"].get("eventType"),
diff --git a/obsws_python/reqs.py b/obsws_python/reqs.py
index 9650e95..fb7a809 100644
--- a/obsws_python/reqs.py
+++ b/obsws_python/reqs.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class ReqClient:
     def __repr__(self):
         return type(
             self
-        ).__name__ + "(host='{host}', port={port}, password='{password}')".format(
+        ).__name__ + "(host='{host}', port={port}, password='{password}', timeout={timeout})".format(
             **self.base_client.__dict__,
         )
 
diff --git a/obsws_python/version.py b/obsws_python/version.py
index 841aad2..e3a0f01 100644
--- a/obsws_python/version.py
+++ b/obsws_python/version.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-version = "1.4.2"
+version = "1.5.0"