diff --git a/mitogen/parent.py b/mitogen/parent.py
index 79b9454d..aaa24041 100644
--- a/mitogen/parent.py
+++ b/mitogen/parent.py
@@ -276,6 +276,10 @@ class Stream(mitogen.core.Stream):
     #: Maximum time to wait for a connection attempt.
     connect_timeout = 30.0
 
+    #: Derived from :py:attr:`connect_timeout`; absolute floating point
+    #: UNIX timestamp after which the connection attempt should be abandoned.
+    connect_deadline = None
+
     #: True to cause context to write verbose /tmp/mitogen.<pid>.log.
     debug = False
 
@@ -306,6 +310,7 @@ class Stream(mitogen.core.Stream):
         self.remote_name = remote_name
         self.debug = debug
         self.profiling = profiling
+        self.connect_deadline = time.time() + self.connect_timeout
 
     def on_shutdown(self, broker):
         """Request the slave gracefully shut itself down."""
diff --git a/mitogen/ssh.py b/mitogen/ssh.py
index 8a115383..1841d484 100644
--- a/mitogen/ssh.py
+++ b/mitogen/ssh.py
@@ -112,8 +112,12 @@ class Stream(mitogen.parent.Stream):
 
     def _connect_bootstrap(self):
         password_sent = False
-        for buf in mitogen.parent.iter_read(self.receive_side.fd,
-                                            time.time() + 10.0):
+        it = mitogen.parent.iter_read(
+            fd=self.receive_side.fd,
+            deadline=self.connect_deadline
+        )
+
+        for buf in it:
             LOG.debug('%r: received %r', self, buf)
             if buf.endswith('EC0\n'):
                 self._ec0_received()
diff --git a/mitogen/sudo.py b/mitogen/sudo.py
index 78aa3063..8e4ab3c3 100644
--- a/mitogen/sudo.py
+++ b/mitogen/sudo.py
@@ -149,8 +149,13 @@ class Stream(mitogen.parent.Stream):
 
     def _connect_bootstrap(self):
         password_sent = False
-        for buf in mitogen.parent.iter_read(self.receive_side.fd,
-                                            time.time() + 10.0):
+        it = mitogen.parent.iter_read(
+            fd=self.receive_side.fd,
+            deadline=self.connect_deadline,
+            display_on_failure=0
+        )
+
+        for buf in it:
             LOG.debug('%r: received %r', self, buf)
             if buf.endswith('EC0\n'):
                 self._ec0_received()