diff --git a/src/index_theme.ts.template b/src/index_theme.ts.template
index 2c415d004..1db4bc7b2 100644
--- a/src/index_theme.ts.template
+++ b/src/index_theme.ts.template
@@ -18,10 +18,20 @@ function webgl_support() {
         return false
     }
 }
+
+async function timeout(timeMS: number): Promise<{ layers: string[] }> {
+    await Utils.waitFor(timeMS)
+    return { layers: [] }
+}
+
+
 async function getAvailableLayers(): Promise<Set<string>> {
     try {
         const host = new URL(Constants.VectorTileServer).host
-        const status = await Utils.downloadJson("https://" + host + "/summary/status.json")
+        const status = await Promise.any([
+                                   Utils.downloadJson("https://" + host + "/summary/status.json"),
+                                   timeout(5000)
+                               ])
         return new Set<string>(status.layers)
     } catch (e) {
         console.error("Could not get MVT available layers due to", e)