diff --git a/src/support/Systemcall.cpp b/src/support/Systemcall.cpp
index 5713294055..8cedb09a33 100644
--- a/src/support/Systemcall.cpp
+++ b/src/support/Systemcall.cpp
@@ -225,8 +225,8 @@ int Systemcall::startscript(Starttype how, string const & what, bool process_eve
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	int timeout_min = 30;
-	if (!d.waitWhile(SystemcallPrivate::Running, process_events, timeout_min * 60 * 1000)) {
+	if (!d.waitWhile(SystemcallPrivate::Running, process_events,
+			 os::timeout_min() * 60 * 1000)) {
 		LYXERR0("Systemcall: '" << cmd << "' did not finish!");
 		LYXERR0("error " << d.errorMessage());
 		LYXERR0("status " << d.exitStatusMessage());
diff --git a/src/support/os.h b/src/support/os.h
index 38517d8bda..8d1744bf7e 100644
--- a/src/support/os.h
+++ b/src/support/os.h
@@ -55,6 +55,9 @@ std::string current_root();
 ///
 shell_type shell();
 
+/// Returns no. of minutes allowed for a command to complete.
+int timeout_min();
+
 /// Name of the python interpreter
 std::string const python();
 
diff --git a/src/support/os_cygwin.cpp b/src/support/os_cygwin.cpp
index ad97c38bc2..6f5d57fdaf 100644
--- a/src/support/os_cygwin.cpp
+++ b/src/support/os_cygwin.cpp
@@ -381,6 +381,12 @@ shell_type shell()
 }
 
 
+int timeout_min()
+{
+	return 3;
+}
+
+
 char path_separator()
 {
 	return ':';
diff --git a/src/support/os_unix.cpp b/src/support/os_unix.cpp
index 20a6316fde..8727cff2b7 100644
--- a/src/support/os_unix.cpp
+++ b/src/support/os_unix.cpp
@@ -212,6 +212,12 @@ shell_type shell()
 }
 
 
+int timeout_min()
+{
+	return 3;
+}
+
+
 char path_separator()
 {
 	return ':';
diff --git a/src/support/os_win32.cpp b/src/support/os_win32.cpp
index dd5f0e594d..2caf085691 100644
--- a/src/support/os_win32.cpp
+++ b/src/support/os_win32.cpp
@@ -423,6 +423,12 @@ shell_type shell()
 }
 
 
+int timeout_min()
+{
+	return 30;
+}
+
+
 char path_separator()
 {
 	return ';';