diff --git a/src/main/java/org/alfresco/httpclient/HttpClientFactory.java b/src/main/java/org/alfresco/httpclient/HttpClientFactory.java
index 31356cb7aa..45a70358e4 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/alfresco/httpclient/HttpClientFactory.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/alfresco/httpclient/HttpClientFactory.java
@@ -249,6 +249,18 @@ public class HttpClientFactory
         this.maxHostConnections = maxHostConnections;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Sets the default socket timeout (<tt>SO_TIMEOUT</tt>) in milliseconds which is the
+     * timeout for waiting for data. A timeout value of zero is interpreted as an infinite
+     * timeout.
+     *
+     * @param socketTimeout Timeout in milliseconds
+     */
+    public void setSocketTimeout(Integer socketTimeout)
+    {
+        this.socketTimeout = socketTimeout;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Attempts to connect to a server will timeout after this period (millis).
      * Default is zero (the timeout is not used).