diff --git a/include/serial_cpp/impl/unix.h b/include/serial_cpp/impl/unix.h
index 5a33575..d3051ed 100644
--- a/include/serial_cpp/impl/unix.h
+++ b/include/serial_cpp/impl/unix.h
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ class serial_cpp::Serial::SerialImpl {
   getPort () const;
 
   void
-  setTimeout (Timeout &timeout);
+  setTimeout (const Timeout &timeout);
 
   Timeout
   getTimeout () const;
diff --git a/include/serial_cpp/impl/win.h b/include/serial_cpp/impl/win.h
index 6d2ca04..9c12213 100644
--- a/include/serial_cpp/impl/win.h
+++ b/include/serial_cpp/impl/win.h
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ class serial_cpp::Serial::SerialImpl {
   getPort () const;
 
   void
-  setTimeout (Timeout &timeout);
+  setTimeout (const Timeout &timeout);
 
   Timeout
   getTimeout () const;
diff --git a/include/serial_cpp/serial.h b/include/serial_cpp/serial.h
index 8363972..890453e 100644
--- a/include/serial_cpp/serial.h
+++ b/include/serial_cpp/serial.h
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ class Serial {
    */
   Serial (const std::string &port = "",
           uint32_t baudrate = 9600,
-          Timeout timeout = Timeout(),
+          const Timeout& timeout = Timeout(),
           bytesize_t bytesize = eightbits,
           parity_t parity = parity_none,
           stopbits_t stopbits = stopbits_one,
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ class Serial {
    * \see serial_cpp::Timeout
    */
   void
-  setTimeout (Timeout &timeout);
+  setTimeout (const Timeout &timeout);
 
   /*! Sets the timeout for reads and writes. */
   void
diff --git a/src/impl/unix.cc b/src/impl/unix.cc
index 0f415f5..236e80f 100755
--- a/src/impl/unix.cc
+++ b/src/impl/unix.cc
@@ -725,7 +725,7 @@ Serial::SerialImpl::getPort () const
 }
 
 void
-Serial::SerialImpl::setTimeout (serial_cpp::Timeout &timeout)
+Serial::SerialImpl::setTimeout (const serial_cpp::Timeout &timeout)
 {
   timeout_ = timeout;
 }
diff --git a/src/impl/win.cc b/src/impl/win.cc
index 79fd4de..7e158ab 100644
--- a/src/impl/win.cc
+++ b/src/impl/win.cc
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ Serial::SerialImpl::getPort () const
 }
 
 void
-Serial::SerialImpl::setTimeout (serial_cpp::Timeout &timeout)
+Serial::SerialImpl::setTimeout (const serial_cpp::Timeout &timeout)
 {
   timeout_ = timeout;
   if (is_open_) {
diff --git a/src/serial.cc b/src/serial.cc
index 9226899..38bc7f3 100755
--- a/src/serial.cc
+++ b/src/serial.cc
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class Serial::ScopedWriteLock {
   SerialImpl *pimpl_;
 };
 
-Serial::Serial (const string &port, uint32_t baudrate, serial_cpp::Timeout timeout,
+Serial::Serial (const string &port, uint32_t baudrate, const serial_cpp::Timeout& timeout,
                 bytesize_t bytesize, parity_t parity, stopbits_t stopbits,
                 flowcontrol_t flowcontrol)
  : pimpl_(new SerialImpl (port, baudrate, bytesize, parity,
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ Serial::getPort () const
 }
 
 void
-Serial::setTimeout (serial_cpp::Timeout &timeout)
+Serial::setTimeout (const serial_cpp::Timeout &timeout)
 {
   pimpl_->setTimeout (timeout);
 }