diff --git a/data_safe_haven/infrastructure/stacks/sre/remote_desktop.py b/data_safe_haven/infrastructure/stacks/sre/remote_desktop.py
index e90c2b1b9b..74eaa178c7 100644
--- a/data_safe_haven/infrastructure/stacks/sre/remote_desktop.py
+++ b/data_safe_haven/infrastructure/stacks/sre/remote_desktop.py
@@ -290,6 +290,9 @@ def __init__(
                         containerinstance.EnvironmentVariableArgs(
                             name="POSTGRESQL_SSL_MODE", value="require"
                         ),
+                        containerinstance.EnvironmentVariableArgs(
+                            name="POSTGRESQL_SOCKET_TIMEOUT", value="5"
+                        ),
                         containerinstance.EnvironmentVariableArgs(
                             name="POSTGRES_USER",
                             value=Output.concat(