diff --git a/usr.bin/fetch/fetch.c b/usr.bin/fetch/fetch.c
index 6b237f359a73..740ddff75eef 100644
--- a/usr.bin/fetch/fetch.c
+++ b/usr.bin/fetch/fetch.c
@@ -387,6 +387,8 @@ fetch(char *URL, const char *path)
 	if (timeout)
 		alarm(timeout);
 	f = fetchXGet(url, &us, flags);
+	if (timeout)
+		alarm(0);
 	if (sigalrm || sigint)
 		goto signal;
 	if (f == NULL) {