diff --git a/src/journal/journald.c b/src/journal/journald.c
index b996e41fb9..53eef8b4a3 100644
--- a/src/journal/journald.c
+++ b/src/journal/journald.c
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
 
 #define RECHECK_VAR_AVAILABLE_USEC (30*USEC_PER_SEC)
 
-#define SYSLOG_TIMEOUT_USEC (5*USEC_PER_SEC)
+#define SYSLOG_TIMEOUT_USEC (250*USEC_PER_MSEC)
 
 #define N_IOVEC_META_FIELDS 16