diff --git a/pymods/trick/variable_server.py b/pymods/trick/variable_server.py
index 1915a83b..7511f3b6 100644
--- a/pymods/trick/variable_server.py
+++ b/pymods/trick/variable_server.py
@@ -1003,6 +1003,8 @@ def fromPID(pid, timeout=None):
     while True:
         if timeout is not None:
             timeout -= (time.time() - clock)
+            if timeout < 0:
+                raise socket.timeout
             clock = time.time()
             sock.settimeout(timeout)