diff --git a/eventlet/green/ssl.py b/eventlet/green/ssl.py
index b42ddaa64..be4f29b57 100644
--- a/eventlet/green/ssl.py
+++ b/eventlet/green/ssl.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 orig_socket = __import__('socket')
 socket = orig_socket.socket
-timeout_exc = SSLError
+timeout_exc = orig_socket.timeout
 
 __patched__ = [
     'SSLSocket', 'SSLContext', 'wrap_socket', 'sslwrap_simple',