diff --git a/backend/utils/__init__.py b/backend/utils/__init__.py
index 14a51f879..586766c5d 100644
--- a/backend/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/backend/utils/__init__.py
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ def get_version() -> str | None:
     
 
 def check_new_version() -> str | None:
-    response = requests.get("https://api.github.com/repos/zurdi15/romm/releases/latest")
+    response = requests.get("https://api.github.com/repos/zurdi15/romm/releases/latest", timeout=0.5)
     try:
         last_version = response.json()["name"][1:] # remove leading 'v' from 'vX.X.X'
     except KeyError: # rate limit reached