diff --git a/src/http.lua b/src/http.lua
index ac4b2d6..5f70a37 100644
--- a/src/http.lua
+++ b/src/http.lua
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ local _M = socket.http
 -- Program constants
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 -- connection timeout in seconds
-TIMEOUT = 60
+_M.TIMEOUT = 60
 -- default port for document retrieval
 _M.PORT = 80
 -- user agent field sent in request