diff --git a/lib/utils/timeout.py b/lib/utils/timeout.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f4db06ffb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/utils/timeout.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import threading
+
+def timeout(func, args=(), kwargs={}, timeout_duration=1, default=None):
+    class InterruptableThread(threading.Thread):
+        def __init__(self):
+            threading.Thread.__init__(self)
+            self.result = None
+
+        def run(self):
+            try:
+                self.result = func(*args, **kwargs)
+            except:
+                self.result = default
+
+    thread = InterruptableThread()
+    thread.start()
+    thread.join(timeout_duration)
+    if thread.isAlive():
+        return default
+    else:
+        return thread.result