diff --git a/plugins/inputs/apache/apache.go b/plugins/inputs/apache/apache.go
index b6e3e50f1071a..eba5a11885d32 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/apache/apache.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/apache/apache.go
@@ -58,7 +58,10 @@ var tr = &http.Transport{
 	ResponseHeaderTimeout: time.Duration(3 * time.Second),
 }
 
-var client = &http.Client{Transport: tr}
+var client = &http.Client{
+	Transport: tr,
+	Timeout:   time.Duration(4 * time.Second),
+}
 
 func (n *Apache) gatherUrl(addr *url.URL, acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 	resp, err := client.Get(addr.String())
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/couchdb/couchdb.go b/plugins/inputs/couchdb/couchdb.go
index ba64e4a6dccd0..bf241649a49ce 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/couchdb/couchdb.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/couchdb/couchdb.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"reflect"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
+	"time"
 )
 
 // Schema:
@@ -112,9 +113,18 @@ func (c *CouchDB) Gather(accumulator telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 
 }
 
+var tr = &http.Transport{
+	ResponseHeaderTimeout: time.Duration(3 * time.Second),
+}
+
+var client = &http.Client{
+	Transport: tr,
+	Timeout:   time.Duration(4 * time.Second),
+}
+
 func (c *CouchDB) fetchAndInsertData(accumulator telegraf.Accumulator, host string) error {
 
-	response, error := http.Get(host)
+	response, error := client.Get(host)
 	if error != nil {
 		return error
 	}
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/disque/disque.go b/plugins/inputs/disque/disque.go
index a311b6739c054..822e5924f5302 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/disque/disque.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/disque/disque.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/inputs"
@@ -30,6 +31,8 @@ var sampleConfig = `
   servers = ["localhost"]
 `
 
+var defaultTimeout = 5 * time.Second
+
 func (r *Disque) SampleConfig() string {
 	return sampleConfig
 }
@@ -107,7 +110,7 @@ func (g *Disque) gatherServer(addr *url.URL, acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 			addr.Host = addr.Host + ":" + defaultPort
 		}
 
-		c, err := net.Dial("tcp", addr.Host)
+		c, err := net.DialTimeout("tcp", addr.Host, defaultTimeout)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("Unable to connect to disque server '%s': %s", addr.Host, err)
 		}
@@ -132,6 +135,9 @@ func (g *Disque) gatherServer(addr *url.URL, acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 		g.c = c
 	}
 
+	// Extend connection
+	g.c.SetDeadline(time.Now().Add(defaultTimeout))
+
 	g.c.Write([]byte("info\r\n"))
 
 	r := bufio.NewReader(g.c)
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/dovecot/dovecot.go b/plugins/inputs/dovecot/dovecot.go
index 75829f5954dbb..3a6607da9ef72 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/dovecot/dovecot.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/dovecot/dovecot.go
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ var sampleConfig = `
   domains = []
 `
 
+var defaultTimeout = time.Second * time.Duration(5)
+
 func (d *Dovecot) SampleConfig() string { return sampleConfig }
 
 const defaultPort = "24242"
@@ -74,12 +76,15 @@ func (d *Dovecot) gatherServer(addr string, acc telegraf.Accumulator, doms map[s
 		return fmt.Errorf("Error: %s on url %s\n", err, addr)
 	}
 
-	c, err := net.Dial("tcp", addr)
+	c, err := net.DialTimeout("tcp", addr, defaultTimeout)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Unable to connect to dovecot server '%s': %s", addr, err)
 	}
 	defer c.Close()
 
+	// Extend connection
+	c.SetDeadline(time.Now().Add(defaultTimeout))
+
 	c.Write([]byte("EXPORT\tdomain\n\n"))
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
 	io.Copy(&buf, c)
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.go b/plugins/inputs/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.go
index aae97f4d7be82..32bd58516da99 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.go
@@ -81,7 +81,12 @@ type Elasticsearch struct {
 
 // NewElasticsearch return a new instance of Elasticsearch
 func NewElasticsearch() *Elasticsearch {
-	return &Elasticsearch{client: http.DefaultClient}
+	tr := &http.Transport{ResponseHeaderTimeout: time.Duration(3 * time.Second)}
+	client := &http.Client{
+		Transport: tr,
+		Timeout:   time.Duration(4 * time.Second),
+	}
+	return &Elasticsearch{client: client}
 }
 
 // SampleConfig returns sample configuration for this plugin.
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/elasticsearch/elasticsearch_test.go b/plugins/inputs/elasticsearch/elasticsearch_test.go
index f94d3f9ac03f0..f298575070f47 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/elasticsearch/elasticsearch_test.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/elasticsearch/elasticsearch_test.go
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ func (t *transportMock) RoundTrip(r *http.Request) (*http.Response, error) {
 	return res, nil
 }
 
+func (t *transportMock) CancelRequest(_ *http.Request) {
+}
+
 func TestElasticsearch(t *testing.T) {
 	es := NewElasticsearch()
 	es.Servers = []string{"http://example.com:9200"}
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/haproxy/haproxy.go b/plugins/inputs/haproxy/haproxy.go
index 233cd84816e33..b1402d8ec7507 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/haproxy/haproxy.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/haproxy/haproxy.go
@@ -129,8 +129,11 @@ func (g *haproxy) Gather(acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 
 func (g *haproxy) gatherServer(addr string, acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 	if g.client == nil {
-
-		client := &http.Client{}
+		tr := &http.Transport{ResponseHeaderTimeout: time.Duration(3 * time.Second)}
+		client := &http.Client{
+			Transport: tr,
+			Timeout:   time.Duration(4 * time.Second),
+		}
 		g.client = client
 	}
 
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/httpjson/httpjson.go b/plugins/inputs/httpjson/httpjson.go
index c055f66de9684..c07a9602a48c9 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/httpjson/httpjson.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/httpjson/httpjson.go
@@ -244,6 +244,11 @@ func (h *HttpJson) sendRequest(serverURL string) (string, float64, error) {
 
 func init() {
 	inputs.Add("httpjson", func() telegraf.Input {
-		return &HttpJson{client: RealHTTPClient{client: &http.Client{}}}
+		tr := &http.Transport{ResponseHeaderTimeout: time.Duration(3 * time.Second)}
+		client := &http.Client{
+			Transport: tr,
+			Timeout:   time.Duration(4 * time.Second),
+		}
+		return &HttpJson{client: RealHTTPClient{client: client}}
 	})
 }
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/influxdb/influxdb.go b/plugins/inputs/influxdb/influxdb.go
index 63a3c1854d769..5af9a07316273 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/influxdb/influxdb.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/influxdb/influxdb.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/inputs"
@@ -70,6 +71,15 @@ type point struct {
 	Values map[string]interface{} `json:"values"`
 }
 
+var tr = &http.Transport{
+	ResponseHeaderTimeout: time.Duration(3 * time.Second),
+}
+
+var client = &http.Client{
+	Transport: tr,
+	Timeout:   time.Duration(4 * time.Second),
+}
+
 // Gathers data from a particular URL
 // Parameters:
 //     acc    : The telegraf Accumulator to use
@@ -81,7 +91,7 @@ func (i *InfluxDB) gatherURL(
 	acc telegraf.Accumulator,
 	url string,
 ) error {
-	resp, err := http.Get(url)
+	resp, err := client.Get(url)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/jolokia/jolokia.go b/plugins/inputs/jolokia/jolokia.go
index 2e0bba6d53be7..a65f5ff8fc811 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/jolokia/jolokia.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/jolokia/jolokia.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/inputs"
@@ -160,6 +161,11 @@ func (j *Jolokia) Gather(acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 
 func init() {
 	inputs.Add("jolokia", func() telegraf.Input {
-		return &Jolokia{jClient: &JolokiaClientImpl{client: &http.Client{}}}
+		tr := &http.Transport{ResponseHeaderTimeout: time.Duration(3 * time.Second)}
+		client := &http.Client{
+			Transport: tr,
+			Timeout:   time.Duration(4 * time.Second),
+		}
+		return &Jolokia{jClient: &JolokiaClientImpl{client: client}}
 	})
 }
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/mailchimp/chimp_api.go b/plugins/inputs/mailchimp/chimp_api.go
index fe2c56d0cd5fc..75c9a30d79c6b 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/mailchimp/chimp_api.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/mailchimp/chimp_api.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"net/url"
 	"regexp"
 	"sync"
+	"time"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -120,7 +121,10 @@ func (a *ChimpAPI) GetReport(campaignID string) (Report, error) {
 }
 
 func runChimp(api *ChimpAPI, params ReportsParams) ([]byte, error) {
-	client := &http.Client{Transport: api.Transport}
+	client := &http.Client{
+		Transport: api.Transport,
+		Timeout:   time.Duration(4 * time.Second),
+	}
 
 	var b bytes.Buffer
 	req, err := http.NewRequest("GET", api.url.String(), &b)
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/mesos/mesos.go b/plugins/inputs/mesos/mesos.go
index 5bcda79702b95..ccb76daae8a56 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/mesos/mesos.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/mesos/mesos.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/inputs"
@@ -261,6 +262,15 @@ func (m *Mesos) removeGroup(j *map[string]interface{}) {
 	}
 }
 
+var tr = &http.Transport{
+	ResponseHeaderTimeout: time.Duration(3 * time.Second),
+}
+
+var client = &http.Client{
+	Transport: tr,
+	Timeout:   time.Duration(4 * time.Second),
+}
+
 // This should not belong to the object
 func (m *Mesos) gatherMetrics(a string, acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 	var jsonOut map[string]interface{}
@@ -282,7 +292,7 @@ func (m *Mesos) gatherMetrics(a string, acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 
 	ts := strconv.Itoa(m.Timeout) + "ms"
 
-	resp, err := http.Get("http://" + a + "/metrics/snapshot?timeout=" + ts)
+	resp, err := client.Get("http://" + a + "/metrics/snapshot?timeout=" + ts)
 
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/mysql/mysql.go b/plugins/inputs/mysql/mysql.go
index b2e2729a95311..4740677167603 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/mysql/mysql.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/mysql/mysql.go
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@ package mysql
 
 import (
 	"database/sql"
+	"net/url"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 
 	_ "github.com/go-sql-driver/mysql"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf"
@@ -26,6 +28,8 @@ var sampleConfig = `
   servers = ["tcp(127.0.0.1:3306)/"]
 `
 
+var defaultTimeout = time.Second * time.Duration(5)
+
 func (m *Mysql) SampleConfig() string {
 	return sampleConfig
 }
@@ -122,6 +126,10 @@ func (m *Mysql) gatherServer(serv string, acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 		serv = ""
 	}
 
+	serv, err := dsnAddTimeout(serv)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	db, err := sql.Open("mysql", serv)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -207,6 +215,27 @@ func (m *Mysql) gatherServer(serv string, acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func dsnAddTimeout(dsn string) (string, error) {
+
+	// DSN "?timeout=5s" is not valid, but "/?timeout=5s" is valid ("" and "/"
+	// are the same DSN)
+	if dsn == "" {
+		dsn = "/"
+	}
+	u, err := url.Parse(dsn)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	v := u.Query()
+
+	// Only override timeout if not already defined
+	if _, ok := v["timeout"]; ok == false {
+		v.Add("timeout", defaultTimeout.String())
+		u.RawQuery = v.Encode()
+	}
+	return u.String(), nil
+}
+
 func init() {
 	inputs.Add("mysql", func() telegraf.Input {
 		return &Mysql{}
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/mysql/mysql_test.go b/plugins/inputs/mysql/mysql_test.go
index 855e8ba52aa5b..9e40734328b74 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/mysql/mysql_test.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/mysql/mysql_test.go
@@ -84,3 +84,34 @@ func TestMysqlParseDSN(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func TestMysqlDNSAddTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		input  string
+		output string
+	}{
+		{
+			"",
+			"/?timeout=5s",
+		},
+		{
+			"tcp(192.168.1.1:3306)/",
+			"tcp(192.168.1.1:3306)/?timeout=5s",
+		},
+		{
+			"root:passwd@tcp(192.168.1.1:3306)/?tls=false",
+			"root:passwd@tcp(192.168.1.1:3306)/?timeout=5s&tls=false",
+		},
+		{
+			"root:passwd@tcp(192.168.1.1:3306)/?tls=false&timeout=10s",
+			"root:passwd@tcp(192.168.1.1:3306)/?tls=false&timeout=10s",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		output, _ := dsnAddTimeout(test.input)
+		if output != test.output {
+			t.Errorf("Expected %s, got %s\n", test.output, output)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/nginx/nginx.go b/plugins/inputs/nginx/nginx.go
index 3b008fbf3443d..c13ba39f3c49e 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/nginx/nginx.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/nginx/nginx.go
@@ -58,7 +58,10 @@ var tr = &http.Transport{
 	ResponseHeaderTimeout: time.Duration(3 * time.Second),
 }
 
-var client = &http.Client{Transport: tr}
+var client = &http.Client{
+	Transport: tr,
+	Timeout:   time.Duration(4 * time.Second),
+}
 
 func (n *Nginx) gatherUrl(addr *url.URL, acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 	resp, err := client.Get(addr.String())
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/nsq/nsq.go b/plugins/inputs/nsq/nsq.go
index 6b3be66f26c69..35ba76866d510 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/nsq/nsq.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/nsq/nsq.go
@@ -84,7 +84,10 @@ var tr = &http.Transport{
 	ResponseHeaderTimeout: time.Duration(3 * time.Second),
 }
 
-var client = &http.Client{Transport: tr}
+var client = &http.Client{
+	Transport: tr,
+	Timeout:   time.Duration(4 * time.Second),
+}
 
 func (n *NSQ) gatherEndpoint(e string, acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 	u, err := buildURL(e)
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/prometheus/prometheus.go b/plugins/inputs/prometheus/prometheus.go
index 188e6b91411a7..5873b27cc76e5 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/prometheus/prometheus.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/prometheus/prometheus.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
 	"sync"
+	"time"
 )
 
 type Prometheus struct {
@@ -51,8 +52,17 @@ func (g *Prometheus) Gather(acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 	return outerr
 }
 
+var tr = &http.Transport{
+	ResponseHeaderTimeout: time.Duration(3 * time.Second),
+}
+
+var client = &http.Client{
+	Transport: tr,
+	Timeout:   time.Duration(4 * time.Second),
+}
+
 func (g *Prometheus) gatherURL(url string, acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
-	resp, err := http.Get(url)
+	resp, err := client.Get(url)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error making HTTP request to %s: %s", url, err)
 	}
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/rabbitmq/rabbitmq.go b/plugins/inputs/rabbitmq/rabbitmq.go
index e51d65e15d365..4d119282dc21d 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/rabbitmq/rabbitmq.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/rabbitmq/rabbitmq.go
@@ -122,7 +122,11 @@ func (r *RabbitMQ) Description() string {
 
 func (r *RabbitMQ) Gather(acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 	if r.Client == nil {
-		r.Client = &http.Client{}
+		tr := &http.Transport{ResponseHeaderTimeout: time.Duration(3 * time.Second)}
+		r.Client = &http.Client{
+			Transport: tr,
+			Timeout:   time.Duration(4 * time.Second),
+		}
 	}
 
 	var errChan = make(chan error, len(gatherFunctions))
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/raindrops/raindrops.go b/plugins/inputs/raindrops/raindrops.go
index fed22b693892f..6851f5d93b52e 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/raindrops/raindrops.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/raindrops/raindrops.go
@@ -177,8 +177,11 @@ func (r *Raindrops) getTags(addr *url.URL) map[string]string {
 
 func init() {
 	inputs.Add("raindrops", func() telegraf.Input {
-		return &Raindrops{http_client: &http.Client{Transport: &http.Transport{
-			ResponseHeaderTimeout: time.Duration(3 * time.Second),
-		}}}
+		return &Raindrops{http_client: &http.Client{
+			Transport: &http.Transport{
+				ResponseHeaderTimeout: time.Duration(3 * time.Second),
+			},
+			Timeout: time.Duration(4 * time.Second),
+		}}
 	})
 }
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/redis/redis.go b/plugins/inputs/redis/redis.go
index b8862f6bc3488..859b23a22cd49 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/redis/redis.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/redis/redis.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/inputs"
@@ -30,6 +31,8 @@ var sampleConfig = `
   servers = ["tcp://localhost:6379"]
 `
 
+var defaultTimeout = 5 * time.Second
+
 func (r *Redis) SampleConfig() string {
 	return sampleConfig
 }
@@ -120,12 +123,15 @@ func (r *Redis) gatherServer(addr *url.URL, acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 		addr.Host = addr.Host + ":" + defaultPort
 	}
 
-	c, err := net.Dial("tcp", addr.Host)
+	c, err := net.DialTimeout("tcp", addr.Host, defaultTimeout)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Unable to connect to redis server '%s': %s", addr.Host, err)
 	}
 	defer c.Close()
 
+	// Extend connection
+	c.SetDeadline(time.Now().Add(defaultTimeout))
+
 	if addr.User != nil {
 		pwd, set := addr.User.Password()
 		if set && pwd != "" {
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/riak/riak.go b/plugins/inputs/riak/riak.go
index 6750c75a06a79..56231176b114f 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/riak/riak.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/riak/riak.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/inputs"
@@ -20,7 +21,12 @@ type Riak struct {
 
 // NewRiak return a new instance of Riak with a default http client
 func NewRiak() *Riak {
-	return &Riak{client: http.DefaultClient}
+	tr := &http.Transport{ResponseHeaderTimeout: time.Duration(3 * time.Second)}
+	client := &http.Client{
+		Transport: tr,
+		Timeout:   time.Duration(4 * time.Second),
+	}
+	return &Riak{client: client}
 }
 
 // Type riakStats represents the data that is received from Riak
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/zookeeper/zookeeper.go b/plugins/inputs/zookeeper/zookeeper.go
index 0f2b2e06f8d9e..54defc56f04f6 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/zookeeper/zookeeper.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/zookeeper/zookeeper.go
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ func (z *Zookeeper) gatherServer(address string, acc telegraf.Accumulator) error
 	}
 	defer c.Close()
 
+	// Extend connection
+	c.SetDeadline(time.Now().Add(defaultTimeout))
+
 	fmt.Fprintf(c, "%s\n", "mntr")
 	rdr := bufio.NewReader(c)
 	scanner := bufio.NewScanner(rdr)