diff --git a/simple_ctrl.h b/simple_ctrl.h
index e45479f..e1577a4 100644
--- a/simple_ctrl.h
+++ b/simple_ctrl.h
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
 
 struct simple_ctrl_handle;
 
-struct simple_ctrl_handle *simple_ctrl_open(void *ctx, const char *host, uint16_t dport);
+struct simple_ctrl_handle *simple_ctrl_open(void *ctx, const char *host, uint16_t dport,
+					    uint32_t tout_msec);
 void simple_ctrl_close(struct simple_ctrl_handle *sch);
 
 char *simple_ctrl_get(struct simple_ctrl_handle *sch, const char *var);