diff --git a/config/default.nix b/config/default.nix
index f2e29caa..5c7dc3d6 100644
--- a/config/default.nix
+++ b/config/default.nix
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@
       trusted-public-keys = [
         "nix-cache.hq.c3d2.de:KZRGGnwOYzys6pxgM8jlur36RmkJQ/y8y62e52fj1ps="
       ];
+      stalled-download-timeout = 60; # in case hydra is not reachable fail faster
       # don't self feed hydra
       substituters = lib.mkIf (config.networking.hostName != "hydra") (
         lib.mkBefore [ "https://nix-cache.hq.c3d2.de" ]