diff --git a/bin/sekrit.sh b/bin/sekrit.sh
index 63ddc4e..7b6a0b0 100644
--- a/bin/sekrit.sh
+++ b/bin/sekrit.sh
@@ -109,8 +109,14 @@ sekrit_cp()
 	key=$1
 	path=$(make_key_path "$key")
 	[ -f "$path" ] || err "no data for key $key"
+
+	timo=
+	if command -v timeout >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+		timo="timeout 10"
+	fi
+
 	_sekrit_decrypt "$path" |
-	    xclip $rmlastnl -loops 1 -quiet -selection clip 2>/dev/null
+	    $timo xclip $rmlastnl -loops 1 -quiet -selection clip 2>/dev/null
 }
 
 sekrit_gen()