diff --git a/eris.c b/eris.c
index 1b38f10..434fcb2 100644
--- a/eris.c
+++ b/eris.c
@@ -98,7 +98,6 @@ char *path;
 int   http_version;
 char *content_type;
 size_t content_length;
-int   header_sent;
 off_t range_start, range_end;
 time_t ims = 0;
 
@@ -144,7 +143,6 @@ dolog(int code, off_t len)
 void
 header(unsigned int code, const char *httpcomment)
 {
-    header_sent = 1;
     printf("HTTP/1.%d %u %s\r\n", http_version, code, httpcomment);
     printf("Server: " FNORD "\r\n");
     printf("Connection: %s\r\n", keepalive?"keep-alive":"close");
@@ -521,7 +519,6 @@ handle_request()
     range_end = 0;
     content_type = NULL;
     content_length = 0;
-    header_sent = 0;
 
     alarm(READTIMEOUT);
 
@@ -749,14 +746,6 @@ handle_request()
     return;
 }
 
-void
-sigalarm(int sig)
-{
-    if (! header_sent) {
-        badrequest(408, "Request Timeout", "You are being too slow.");
-    }
-}
-
 int
 main(int argc, char *argv[], const char *const *envp)
 {
@@ -767,7 +756,6 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[], const char *const *envp)
     setbuffer(stdout, stdout_buf, sizeof stdout_buf);
 
     signal(SIGPIPE, SIG_IGN);
-    signal(SIGALRM, sigalarm);
     get_ucspi_env();
 
     while (1) {
diff --git a/test.sh b/test.sh
index a57318d..254c77d 100755
--- a/test.sh
+++ b/test.sh
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ printf 'GET /mongo.cgi HTTP/1.0\r\n\r\n' | $HTTPD_CGI 2>/dev/null | grep -q jame
 H "Timeouts"
 
 title "Read timeout"
-(sleep 2.1; echo) | $HTTPD 2>&1 | grep -c 'HTTP/1.. 408 \|.null. 408' | grep -q 2 && pass || fail
+(sleep 2.1; printf 'GET / HTTP/1.0\r\n\r\n') | $HTTPD 2>/dev/null | grep -q '.' && fail || pass