--- check_ping.c.org	2005-06-14 12:40:11.000000000 -0400
+++ check_ping.c	2005-06-14 12:40:22.000000000 -0400
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
 	}
 
 	/* handle timeouts gracefully */
-	alarm (timeout_interval);
+	alarm (timeout_interval+4);
 
 	for (i = 0 ; i < n_addresses ; i++) {