 
         conn = req.connection
 
+        # refuse to wait longer than 250ms
+        req_t = setTimeout =>
+            console.debug "Preroll timeout reached for #{count}."
+            conn_pre_abort()
+        , 250
+
         console.debug "firing preroll request", count
         req = http.get opts, (rres) =>
             console.debug "got preroll response ", count, rres.statusCode

        # shut down and we should abort the request

        conn_pre_abort = =>
            if conn.destroyed
                console.debug "aborting preroll ", count
                req.abort()

        conn.once "close", conn_pre_abort
        conn.once "end", conn_pre_abort


                buffers = []
                buf_len = 0

                clearTimeout req_t

                rres.on "data", (chunk) =>
                    buffers.push chunk
