diff --git a/Lib/logging/handlers.py b/Lib/logging/handlers.py
index d0e1425..9c63797 100644
--- a/Lib/logging/handlers.py
+++ b/Lib/logging/handlers.py
@@ -872,7 +872,7 @@
     A handler class which sends an SMTP email for each logging event.
     """
     def __init__(self, mailhost, fromaddr, toaddrs, subject,
-                 credentials=None, secure=None, timeout=1.0):
+                 credentials=None, secure=None, timeout=5.0):
         """
         Initialize the handler.