diff --git a/frappy_psi/sea.py b/frappy_psi/sea.py
index be259ba..9ac2570 100644
--- a/frappy_psi/sea.py
+++ b/frappy_psi/sea.py
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class SeaClient(ProxyClient, Module):
     """connection to SEA"""
 
     uri = Parameter('hostname:portnumber', datatype=StringType(), default='localhost:5000')
-    timeout = Parameter('timeout', datatype=FloatRange(0), default=10)
+    timeout = Parameter('timeout for connecting and requests', datatype=FloatRange(0), default=10)
     config = Property("""needed SEA configuration, space separated
 
                       Example: "ori4.config ori4.stick"
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ class SeaClient(ProxyClient, Module):
         self.path2param = {}
         self._write_lock = threading.Lock()
         self._connect_thread = None
-        self._connected = False
+        self._connected = threading.Event()
         config = opts.get('config')
         if isinstance(config, dict):
             config = config['value']
@@ -137,11 +137,12 @@ class SeaClient(ProxyClient, Module):
         Module.__init__(self, name, log, opts, srv)
 
     def doPoll(self):
-        if not self._connected and time.time() > self._last_connect + 10:
+        if not self._connected.is_set() and time.time() > self._last_connect + self.timeout:
             if not self._last_connect:
                 self.log.info('reconnect to SEA %s', self.service)
             if self._connect_thread is None:
                 self._connect_thread = mkthread(self._connect)
+            self._connected.wait(self.timeout)
 
     def register_obj(self, module, obj):
         self.objects.add(obj)
@@ -180,7 +181,6 @@ class SeaClient(ProxyClient, Module):
             assert self.syncio.readline() == b'OK'
             self.syncio.writeline(b'seauser seaser')
             assert self.syncio.readline() == b'Login OK'
-            self.log.info('connected to %s', self.uri)
 
             result = self.raw_request('frappy_config %s %s' % (self.service, self.config))
             if result.startswith('ERROR:'):
@@ -188,14 +188,15 @@ class SeaClient(ProxyClient, Module):
             # frappy_async_client switches to the json protocol (better for updates)
             self.asynio.writeline(b'frappy_async_client')
             self.asynio.writeline(('get_all_param ' + ' '.join(self.objects)).encode())
-            self._connected = True
+            self.log.info('connected to %s', self.uri)
+            self._connected.set()
             mkthread(self._rxthread)
         finally:
             self._connect_thread = None
 
     def request(self, command, quiet=False):
         with self._write_lock:
-            if not self._connected:
+            if not self._connected.is_set():
                 if self._connect_thread is None:
                     # let doPoll do the reconnect
                     self.pollInfo.trigger(True)
@@ -209,7 +210,7 @@ class SeaClient(ProxyClient, Module):
             ft = 'fulltransAct' if quiet else 'fulltransact'
             self.syncio.writeline(('%s %s' % (ft, command)).encode())
             result = None
-            deadline = time.time() + 10
+            deadline = time.time() + self.timeout
             while time.time() < deadline:
                 reply = self.syncio.readline()
                 if reply is None:
@@ -239,13 +240,13 @@ class SeaClient(ProxyClient, Module):
 
     def close_connections(self):
         connections = self.syncio, self.asynio
-        self._connected = False
         self.syncio = self.asynio = None
         for conn in connections:
             try:
                 conn.disconnect()
             except Exception:
                 pass
+        self._connected.clear()
 
     def _rxthread(self):
         recheck = None