eval {
  local $SIG{ALRM} = sub { die "timeout" };
  alarm($timeout);
  connect(SOCKET, $paddr) || error();
  alarm(0);
};

##</code><code>##

#!perl

eval {
    local $SIG{ALRM} = sub { die "timeout" };
    alarm(1);
    error();  # not found -> dies
    alarm(0);
};
print "\$@: $@\n" if $@;

# do something that takes longer than a sec,
# without itself being implemented via SetTimer()
rand for 1..2e7;

__END__
H:\PM>perl 759131.pl
$@: Undefined subroutine &main::error called at 759131.pl line 6.

Terminating on signal SIGALRM(14)