diff --git a/rabbitpy/connection.py b/rabbitpy/connection.py
index c4f399d..f8bbcc4 100644
--- a/rabbitpy/connection.py
+++ b/rabbitpy/connection.py
@@ -310,13 +310,23 @@ def _connect(self):
         self._channel0.start()
 
         # Wait for Channel0 to raise an exception or negotiate the connection
-        while not self._channel0.open:
+        timeout_start = time.time()
+        while time.time() < timeout_start + self.DEFAULT_TIMEOUT:
+
+            if self._channel0.open:
+                break
+
             if not self._exceptions.empty():
                 exception = self._exceptions.get()
                 self._io.stop()
                 raise exception
+
             time.sleep(0.01)
 
+        # Raise exception if channel not opened before timeout
+        if not self._channel0.open:
+            raise exceptions.ConnectionException
+
         # Set the maximum frame size for channel use
         self._max_frame_size = self._channel0.maximum_frame_size