diff --git a/wallet/example_test.go b/wallet/example_test.go
index c6d1b82..5b29d2e 100644
--- a/wallet/example_test.go
+++ b/wallet/example_test.go
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ import (
 	"github.com/btcsuite/btcutil/hdkeychain"
 )
 
+// defaultDBTimeout specifies the timeout value when opening the wallet
+// database.
+var defaultDBTimeout = 10 * time.Second
+
 // testWallet creates a test wallet and unlocks it.
 func testWallet(t *testing.T) (*Wallet, func()) {
 	// Set up a wallet.
@@ -32,7 +36,9 @@ func testWallet(t *testing.T) (*Wallet, func()) {
 	pubPass := []byte("hello")
 	privPass := []byte("world")
 
-	loader := NewLoader(&chaincfg.TestNet3Params, dir, true, 250)
+	loader := NewLoader(
+		&chaincfg.TestNet3Params, dir, true, defaultDBTimeout, 250,
+	)
 	w, err := loader.CreateNewWallet(pubPass, privPass, seed, time.Now())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unable to create wallet: %v", err)
diff --git a/wallet/loader.go b/wallet/loader.go
index 17f761f..c9d48ce 100644
--- a/wallet/loader.go
+++ b/wallet/loader.go
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ type Loader struct {
 	chainParams    *chaincfg.Params
 	dbDirPath      string
 	noFreelistSync bool
+	timeout        time.Duration
 	recoveryWindow uint32
 	wallet         *Wallet
 	db             walletdb.DB
@@ -57,12 +58,14 @@ type Loader struct {
 // recovery window is non-zero, the wallet will attempt to recovery addresses
 // starting from the last SyncedTo height.
 func NewLoader(chainParams *chaincfg.Params, dbDirPath string,
-	noFreelistSync bool, recoveryWindow uint32) *Loader {
+	noFreelistSync bool, timeout time.Duration,
+	recoveryWindow uint32) *Loader {
 
 	return &Loader{
 		chainParams:    chainParams,
 		dbDirPath:      dbDirPath,
 		noFreelistSync: noFreelistSync,
+		timeout:        timeout,
 		recoveryWindow: recoveryWindow,
 	}
 }
@@ -140,7 +143,7 @@ func (l *Loader) createNewWallet(pubPassphrase, privPassphrase,
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	db, err := walletdb.Create("bdb", dbPath, l.noFreelistSync)
+	db, err := walletdb.Create("bdb", dbPath, l.noFreelistSync, l.timeout)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -196,7 +199,7 @@ func (l *Loader) OpenExistingWallet(pubPassphrase []byte, canConsolePrompt bool)
 
 	// Open the database using the boltdb backend.
 	dbPath := filepath.Join(l.dbDirPath, walletDbName)
-	db, err := walletdb.Open("bdb", dbPath, l.noFreelistSync)
+	db, err := walletdb.Open("bdb", dbPath, l.noFreelistSync, l.timeout)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("Failed to open database: %v", err)
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/wallet/watchingonly_test.go b/wallet/watchingonly_test.go
index f7846b1..64a72b0 100644
--- a/wallet/watchingonly_test.go
+++ b/wallet/watchingonly_test.go
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@ func TestCreateWatchingOnly(t *testing.T) {
 
 	pubPass := []byte("hello")
 
-	loader := NewLoader(&chaincfg.TestNet3Params, dir, true, 250)
+	loader := NewLoader(
+		&chaincfg.TestNet3Params, dir, true, defaultDBTimeout, 250,
+	)
 	_, err = loader.CreateNewWatchingOnlyWallet(pubPass, time.Now())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unable to create wallet: %v", err)