diff --git a/mwclient/client.py b/mwclient/client.py
index ee38b303..4f39bb44 100644
--- a/mwclient/client.py
+++ b/mwclient/client.py
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ def __init__(self, host, path='/w/', ext='.php', pool=None, retry_timeout=30,
         self.max_lag = text_type(max_lag)
         self.force_login = force_login
         self.requests = reqs or {}
+        if 'timeout' not in self.requests:
+            self.requests['timeout'] = 30  # seconds
 
         if consumer_token is not None:
             auth = OAuth1(consumer_token, consumer_secret, access_token, access_secret)
@@ -373,7 +375,9 @@ def raw_call(self, script, data, files=None, retry_on_error=True, http_method='P
 
         while True:
             try:
-                args = {'files': files, 'headers': headers, **self.requests}
+                args = {'files': files, 'headers': headers}
+                for k, v in self.requests.items():
+                    args[k] = v
                 if http_method == 'GET':
                     args['params'] = data
                 else: