diff --git a/question/format.php b/question/format.php
index 0915d496b75..ace02c6131d 100644
--- a/question/format.php
+++ b/question/format.php
@@ -127,6 +127,9 @@ class qformat_default {
      */
     function importprocess() {
 
+       // reset the timer in case file upload was slow
+       @set_time_limit();
+
        // STAGE 1: Parse the file
        notify( get_string('parsingquestions','quiz') );
          
@@ -156,6 +159,9 @@ class qformat_default {
 
         foreach ($questions as $question) {   // Process and store each question
 
+            // reset the php timeout 
+            @set_time_limit();
+
             // check for category modifiers
             if ($question->qtype=='category') {
                 if ($this->catfromfile) {