diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0ff82ee..358c3a3 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 # Changelog
+ * [Unreleased] Apply the `timeout` option to persistent connections
  * [Unreleased] Add Image API support
  * [Unreleased] Add Markdown search and archive output support
  * [Unreleased] Raise `SerpApiError` for non-200 text responses, including 404 responses from `get('/invalid')`
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b15ba15..db019cb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ results = client.search(
 | `api_key` | None | Your SerpApi API key. Use an environment variable rather than committing it to source control. |
 | `engine` | None | The search engine used by default, such as `google` or `google_maps`. |
 | `persistent` | `true` | Reuses the HTTP connection between requests. Call `client.close` when finished. |
-| `timeout` | `120` | Timeout in seconds for non-persistent HTTP requests. |
+| `timeout` | `120` | Timeout in seconds for HTTP requests. |
 | `async` | `false` | Submits searches without waiting for them to complete. It can be set on the client or per search. |
 | `symbolize_names` | `true` | Returns JSON object keys as symbols. Pass `false` to a search to receive string keys. |
 
diff --git a/README.md.erb b/README.md.erb
index b15ba15..db019cb 100644
--- a/README.md.erb
+++ b/README.md.erb
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ results = client.search(
 | `api_key` | None | Your SerpApi API key. Use an environment variable rather than committing it to source control. |
 | `engine` | None | The search engine used by default, such as `google` or `google_maps`. |
 | `persistent` | `true` | Reuses the HTTP connection between requests. Call `client.close` when finished. |
-| `timeout` | `120` | Timeout in seconds for non-persistent HTTP requests. |
+| `timeout` | `120` | Timeout in seconds for HTTP requests. |
 | `async` | `false` | Submits searches without waiting for them to complete. It can be set on the client or per search. |
 | `symbolize_names` | `true` | Returns JSON object keys as symbols. Pass `false` to a search to receive string keys. |
 
diff --git a/lib/serpapi/client.rb b/lib/serpapi/client.rb
index c872291..2667dc7 100644
--- a/lib/serpapi/client.rb
+++ b/lib/serpapi/client.rb
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ def initialize(params = {})
       # create connection socket
       return unless persistent?
 
-      @socket = HTTP.persistent("https://#{BACKEND}")
+      @socket = HTTP.timeout(timeout).persistent("https://#{BACKEND}")
     end
 
     # perform a search using SerpApi.com
diff --git a/spec/serpapi/client/client_spec.rb b/spec/serpapi/client/client_spec.rb
index 8384d3b..724eaf3 100644
--- a/spec/serpapi/client/client_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/serpapi/client/client_spec.rb
@@ -159,6 +159,10 @@
     expect(client.persistent).to be true
   end
 
+  it 'applies the timeout to the persistent socket' do
+    expect(client.socket.default_options.timeout_options).to eq(global_timeout: 10)
+  end
+
   it 'makes a search request with valid parameters' do
     results = client.search(q: 'Coffee', location: 'Austin, TX')
     expect(results.size).to be > 5