diff --git a/docs/ext/local.rst b/docs/ext/local.rst
index fc89e69a..1abebb1d 100644
--- a/docs/ext/local.rst
+++ b/docs/ext/local.rst
@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@ Configuration values
 
     Path to tag cache for local media.
 
+.. confval:: local/scan_timeout
+
+    Number of milliseconds before giving up scanning a file and moving on to
+    the next file.
+
 
 Usage
 =====
diff --git a/mopidy/backends/local/__init__.py b/mopidy/backends/local/__init__.py
index f718eeb5..3e2561a1 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/local/__init__.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/local/__init__.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ class Extension(ext.Extension):
         schema['media_dir'] = config.Path()
         schema['playlists_dir'] = config.Path()
         schema['tag_cache_file'] = config.Path()
+        schema['scan_timeout'] = config.Integer(minimum=0)
         return schema
 
     def validate_environment(self):
diff --git a/mopidy/backends/local/ext.conf b/mopidy/backends/local/ext.conf
index 54c3ab78..7e0f0f2b 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/local/ext.conf
+++ b/mopidy/backends/local/ext.conf
@@ -3,3 +3,4 @@ enabled = true
 media_dir = $XDG_MUSIC_DIR
 playlists_dir = $XDG_DATA_DIR/mopidy/local/playlists
 tag_cache_file = $XDG_DATA_DIR/mopidy/local/tag_cache
+scan_timeout = 1000
diff --git a/mopidy/scanner.py b/mopidy/scanner.py
index 9f13d454..669f8182 100644
--- a/mopidy/scanner.py
+++ b/mopidy/scanner.py
@@ -54,6 +54,10 @@ def main():
         logging.warning('Config value local/media_dir is not set.')
         return
 
+    if not config['local']['scan_timeout']:
+        logging.warning('Config value local/scan_timeout is not set.')
+        return
+
     # TODO: missing config error checking and other default setup code.
 
     audio = dummy_audio.DummyAudio()
@@ -97,9 +101,11 @@ def main():
         logging.warning('Failed %s: %s', uri, error)
         logging.debug('Debug info for %s: %s', uri, debug)
 
+    scan_timeout = config['local']['scan_timeout']
+
     logging.info('Scanning new and modified tracks.')
     # TODO: just pass the library in instead?
-    scanner = Scanner(uris_update, store, debug)
+    scanner = Scanner(uris_update, store, debug, scan_timeout)
     try:
         scanner.start()
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
@@ -176,12 +182,14 @@ def translator(data):
 
 
 class Scanner(object):
-    def __init__(self, uris, data_callback, error_callback=None):
+    def __init__(self, uris, data_callback, error_callback=None, scan_timeout=1000):
         self.data = {}
         self.uris = iter(uris)
         self.data_callback = data_callback
         self.error_callback = error_callback
+        self.scan_timeout = scan_timeout
         self.loop = gobject.MainLoop()
+        self.timeout_id = None
 
         self.fakesink = gst.element_factory_make('fakesink')
         self.fakesink.set_property('signal-handoffs', True)
@@ -252,6 +260,14 @@ class Scanner(object):
             self.error_callback(uri, error, debug)
         self.next_uri()
 
+    def process_timeout(self):
+        if self.error_callback:
+            uri = self.uribin.get_property('uri')
+            self.error_callback(
+                uri, 'Scan timed out after %d ms' % self.scan_timeout, None)
+        self.next_uri()
+        return False
+
     def get_duration(self):
         self.pipe.get_state()  # Block until state change is done.
         try:
@@ -262,6 +278,9 @@ class Scanner(object):
 
     def next_uri(self):
         self.data = {}
+        if self.timeout_id:
+            gobject.source_remove(self.timeout_id)
+            self.timeout_id = None
         try:
             uri = next(self.uris)
         except StopIteration:
@@ -269,6 +288,7 @@ class Scanner(object):
             return False
         self.pipe.set_state(gst.STATE_NULL)
         self.uribin.set_property('uri', uri)
+        self.timeout_id = gobject.timeout_add(self.scan_timeout, self.process_timeout)
         self.pipe.set_state(gst.STATE_PLAYING)
         return True
 
diff --git a/tests/data/scanner/example.log b/tests/data/scanner/example.log
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c49a044d
Binary files /dev/null and b/tests/data/scanner/example.log differ
diff --git a/tests/scanner_test.py b/tests/scanner_test.py
index dcf891c0..903d6510 100644
--- a/tests/scanner_test.py
+++ b/tests/scanner_test.py
@@ -210,6 +210,10 @@ class ScannerTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.scan('scanner/image')
         self.assert_(self.errors)
 
+    def test_log_file_is_ignored(self):
+        self.scan('scanner/example.log')
+        self.assert_(self.errors)
+
     @unittest.SkipTest
     def test_song_without_time_is_handeled(self):
         pass