diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 55f05e7..e23a4ea 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -480,13 +480,21 @@ class PearcordContacts extends EventEmitter {
         this.emit('peer', { peerId, type: 'leave' })
       })
     })
-    await this.swarm.join(topicToBuffer(contactsTopic(this.userId)), {
-      server: true,
-      client: true
-    })
+    const joinMs = Number(process.env.PEARCORD_MESH_JOIN_MS) || 8000
+    await Promise.race([
+      this.swarm.join(topicToBuffer(contactsTopic(this.userId)), {
+        server: true,
+        client: true
+      }),
+      new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, joinMs))
+    ])
     await this._flushSwarm(3500)
     this._meshJoined = true
-    await this._syncFriendTopicLinks()
+    const linkMs = Number(process.env.PEARCORD_CONTACTS_FRIEND_LINK_MS) || 8000
+    await Promise.race([
+      this._syncFriendTopicLinks(),
+      new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, linkMs))
+    ])
     if (this._lastSelfPresence) {
       await broadcastContactsGossip(this, RPC.PRESENCE_UPDATE, this._lastSelfPresence)
     }