diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/threerings/getdown/data/Application.java b/core/src/main/java/com/threerings/getdown/data/Application.java
index 90cf59b..926b7c9 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/threerings/getdown/data/Application.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/threerings/getdown/data/Application.java
@@ -747,6 +747,7 @@ public class Application
         _dockName = config.getString("ui.name");
         _dockIconPath = config.getString("ui.mac_dock_icon", "../desktop.icns");
 
+        _timeoutVerify = config.getInt("timeout_verify", 60);
         return config;
     }
 
@@ -1312,7 +1313,10 @@ public class Application
         while (completed[0] < rsrcs.size()) {
             // we should be getting progress completion updates WAY more often than one every
             // minute, so if things freeze up for 60 seconds, abandon ship
-            Runnable action = actions.poll(60, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
+            Runnable action = actions.poll(_timeoutVerify, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
+            if (action == null) {
+              throw new IllegalStateException("m.timeout_verify");
+            }
             action.run();
         }
 
@@ -1753,6 +1757,8 @@ public class Application
     protected List<Resource> _codes = new ArrayList<>();
     protected List<Resource> _resources = new ArrayList<>();
 
+    protected int _timeoutVerify = 60;
+
     protected boolean _useCodeCache;
     protected int _codeCacheRetentionDays;
 
diff --git a/launcher/src/main/resources/com/threerings/getdown/messages.properties b/launcher/src/main/resources/com/threerings/getdown/messages.properties
index 19b2999..a70fccb 100644
--- a/launcher/src/main/resources/com/threerings/getdown/messages.properties
+++ b/launcher/src/main/resources/com/threerings/getdown/messages.properties
@@ -101,6 +101,8 @@ m.another_getdown_running = Multiple instances of this application's \
 
 m.applet_stopped = Getdown's applet was told to stop working.
 
+m.timeout_verify = Timeout verifying resources
+
 # application/digest errors
 m.missing_appbase = The configuration file is missing the 'appbase'.
 m.invalid_version = The configuration file specifies an invalid version.
diff --git a/launcher/src/main/resources/com/threerings/getdown/messages_de.properties b/launcher/src/main/resources/com/threerings/getdown/messages_de.properties
index 8e36835..c359f4d 100644
--- a/launcher/src/main/resources/com/threerings/getdown/messages_de.properties
+++ b/launcher/src/main/resources/com/threerings/getdown/messages_de.properties
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ Vorgang erledigen lassen.
 
 m.applet_stopped = Die Anwendung wurde beendet.
 
+m.timeout_verify = Timeout beim Verifizieren der Resourcen
 
 # application/digest errors
 m.missing_appbase = In der Konfigurationsdatei fehlt die 'appbase'.