diff --git a/nserver.c b/nserver.c
index bd9b3a3e..5c60b35a 100644
--- a/nserver.c
+++ b/nserver.c
@@ -157,14 +157,22 @@
     {
         i = atoi(pPtr);
         iCommandTimeOut = i;
-    }  
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        iCommandTimeOut = 100; /* this is in microseconds and anyway o.k. */
+    }
     pPtr = NULL;
     pPtr = IFindOption(pSICSOptions,"ReadUserPasswdTimeout");
     if(pPtr != NULL)
     {
         i = atoi(pPtr);
         iPasswordTimeOut = i;
-    }  
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        iPasswordTimeOut = 1; /* never used, but checked ! */
+    }
     assert((pReader = CreateNetReader(self,iPasswordTimeOut,iCommandTimeOut)) != NULL);
     TaskRegister(self->pTasker,
                  NetReaderTask,