diff --git a/src/LAMMPS.jl b/src/LAMMPS.jl
index 2cb2502..a14caea 100644
--- a/src/LAMMPS.jl
+++ b/src/LAMMPS.jl
@@ -224,13 +224,20 @@ end
 ```
 """
 function command(lmp::LMP, cmd::Union{String, Array{String}})
-    if cmd isa String
-        API.lammps_commands_string(lmp, cmd)
-    else
-        API.lammps_commands_list(lmp, length(cmd), cmd)
-    end
+    try
+        if cmd isa String
+            task = @async API.lammps_commands_string(lmp, cmd)
+        else
+            task = @async API.lammps_commands_list(lmp, length(cmd), cmd)
+        end
 
-    check(lmp)
+        wait(task)
+        check(lmp)
+    catch e
+        API.lammps_force_timeout(lmp)
+        check(lmp)
+        throw(e)
+    end
 end
 
 """