diff --git a/backend/pixma_bjnp.c b/backend/pixma_bjnp.c
index 7e09666a0..b4927d874 100644
--- a/backend/pixma_bjnp.c
+++ b/backend/pixma_bjnp.c
@@ -2182,8 +2182,15 @@ sanei_bjnp_deactivate (SANE_Int dn)
 extern void
 sanei_bjnp_set_timeout (SANE_Int devno, SANE_Int timeout)
 {
-  PDBG (bjnp_dbg (LOG_INFO, "bjnp_set_timeout to %d\n",
+  if (timeout < BJNP_TIMEOUT_MIN) 
+    {
+      PDBG (bjnp_dbg (LOG_INFO, "bjnp_set_timeout to %d, but using minimum value %d\n",
+		   timeout, BJNP_TIMEOUT_MIN));
+      timeout = BJNP_TIMEOUT_MIN;
+    } else {
+      PDBG (bjnp_dbg (LOG_INFO, "bjnp_set_timeout to %d\n",
 		   timeout));
+    }
 
   device[devno].bjnp_timeout = timeout;
 }
diff --git a/backend/pixma_bjnp_private.h b/backend/pixma_bjnp_private.h
index a8b4a2f94..fe78acc48 100644
--- a/backend/pixma_bjnp_private.h
+++ b/backend/pixma_bjnp_private.h
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@
 /* timers */
 #define BJNP_BROADCAST_INTERVAL 10 	/* ms between broadcasts */
 #define BJNP_BC_RESPONSE_TIMEOUT 500  	/* waiting time for broadc. responses */
+#define BJNP_TIMEOUT_MIN 500		/* minimum tiemout value for network operations */
 #define BJNP_USLEEP_MS 1000          	/* sleep for 1 msec */
 
 /* retries */