diff --git a/xpra/scripts/main.py b/xpra/scripts/main.py
index 1ab9c149cc..07334d8984 100755
--- a/xpra/scripts/main.py
+++ b/xpra/scripts/main.py
@@ -1100,9 +1100,9 @@ def sockpathfail_cb(msg):
             CID_TYPES, CID_ANY, PORT_ANY,    #@UnresolvedImport
             )
         sock = connect_vsocket(cid=cid, port=iport)
-        sock.timeout = VSOCK_TIMEOUT
         sock.settimeout(None)
         conn = SocketConnection(sock, "local", "host", (CID_TYPES.get(cid, cid), iport), dtype)
+        conn.timeout = VSOCK_TIMEOUT
         conn.target = "vsock://%s:%s" % (
             "any" if cid==CID_ANY else cid,
             "any" if iport==PORT_ANY else iport,