diff --git a/app.js b/app.js
index 869628de..933b7093 100644
--- a/app.js
+++ b/app.js
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ app.get( '/reverse', sanitisers.reverse.middleware, controllers.search(undefined
 /** ----------------------- error middleware ----------------------- **/
 
 app.use( require('./middleware/404') );
+app.use( require('./middleware/408') );
 app.use( require('./middleware/500') );
 
 module.exports = app;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/middleware/408.js b/middleware/408.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f0edfd59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/middleware/408.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+
+// handle time out errors
+function middleware(err, req, res, next) {
+  res.header('Cache-Control','no-cache');
+  if( res.statusCode === 408 ){ res.status(408); }
+  res.json({ error: typeof err === 'string' ? err : 'request time out' });
+}
+
+module.exports = middleware;
\ No newline at end of file