diff --git a/example_test.go b/example_test.go
index 7ad5eef..a93448c 100644
--- a/example_test.go
+++ b/example_test.go
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@ package serial_test
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"log"
+	"os"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 
 	"go.bug.st/serial"
 )
@@ -53,11 +55,20 @@ func Example_sendAndReceive() {
 
 	// Read and print the response
 
+	if err := port.SetReadTimeout(1 * time.Minute); err != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("failed to set read timeout: %v\n", err)
+	}
+
 	buff := make([]byte, 100)
 	for {
 		// Reads up to 100 bytes
 		n, err := port.Read(buff)
 		if err != nil {
+			if os.IsTimeout(err) {
+				fmt.Println("timeout")
+				// TODO do something on read timeout
+				continue
+			}
 			log.Fatal(err)
 		}
 		if n == 0 {
diff --git a/serial.go b/serial.go
index 8e3ce89..a0fe43a 100644
--- a/serial.go
+++ b/serial.go
@@ -165,6 +165,8 @@ const (
 	PortClosed
 	// FunctionNotImplemented the requested function is not implemented
 	FunctionNotImplemented
+	// Timeout when an operation has timed out
+	Timeout
 )
 
 // EncodedErrorString returns a string explaining the error code
@@ -194,6 +196,8 @@ func (e PortError) EncodedErrorString() string {
 		return "Port has been closed"
 	case FunctionNotImplemented:
 		return "Function not implemented"
+	case Timeout:
+		return "Timeout"
 	default:
 		return "Other error"
 	}
@@ -211,3 +215,8 @@ func (e PortError) Error() string {
 func (e PortError) Code() PortErrorCode {
 	return e.code
 }
+
+// Timeout returns true if is is a timeout (usable with os.IsTimeout)
+func (e PortError) Timeout() bool {
+	return e.code == Timeout
+}
diff --git a/serial_unix.go b/serial_unix.go
index 54e55a8..b6f847c 100644
--- a/serial_unix.go
+++ b/serial_unix.go
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ func (port *unixPort) Read(p []byte) (int, error) {
 		}
 		if !res.IsReadable(port.handle) {
 			// Timeout happened
-			return 0, nil
+			return 0, &PortError{code: Timeout}
 		}
 		n, err := unix.Read(port.handle, p)
 		if err == unix.EINTR {
diff --git a/serial_windows.go b/serial_windows.go
index e350f86..a88c9bd 100644
--- a/serial_windows.go
+++ b/serial_windows.go
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func (port *windowsPort) Read(p []byte) (int, error) {
 	}
 
 	// Timeout
-	return 0, nil
+	return 0, &PortError{code: Timeout}
 }
 
 func (port *windowsPort) Write(p []byte) (int, error) {