diff --git a/webvirtcloud/settings.py.template b/webvirtcloud/settings.py.template
index d5fe1da7..0365fe0e 100644
--- a/webvirtcloud/settings.py.template
+++ b/webvirtcloud/settings.py.template
@@ -149,6 +149,8 @@ if db_host := os.getenv("WEBVIRTCLOUD_DB_HOST"):
             "NAME": os.getenv("WEBVIRTCLOUD_DB_NAME", "webvirtcloud"),
             "USER": os.getenv("WEBVIRTCLOUD_DB_USER", "webvirtcloud"),
             "PASSWORD": os.getenv("WEBVIRTCLOUD_DB_PASSWORD", ""),
+            # seconds to connect: libpq waits for the operating system's TCP timeout (minutes)
+            "OPTIONS": {"connect_timeout": 5},
         }
     }
 else:
diff --git a/webvirtcloud/tests/test_settings_env.py b/webvirtcloud/tests/test_settings_env.py
index 571a94de..76a74409 100644
--- a/webvirtcloud/tests/test_settings_env.py
+++ b/webvirtcloud/tests/test_settings_env.py
@@ -122,6 +122,9 @@ class DatabaseEnvTestCase(SimpleTestCase):
              "NAME": "wvc", "USER": "wvcuser", "PASSWORD": "secret"},
         )
 
+    def test_postgres_connects_within_a_bounded_time(self):
+        self.assertEqual(self.db({"WEBVIRTCLOUD_DB_HOST": "db.example.com"})["OPTIONS"], {"connect_timeout": 5})
+
     def test_postgres_defaults(self):
         db = self.db({"WEBVIRTCLOUD_DB_HOST": "db.example.com"})
         self.assertEqual(