diff --git a/rpc/http.go b/rpc/http.go
index 16fb61b0fe..f3bd1f29c5 100644
--- a/rpc/http.go
+++ b/rpc/http.go
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 	"github.com/rs/cors"
 )
 
@@ -198,6 +199,20 @@ func NewHTTPServer(cors []string, vhosts []string, timeouts HTTPTimeouts, srv *S
 	handler := newCorsHandler(srv, cors)
 	handler = newVHostHandler(vhosts, handler)
 
+	// Make sure timeout values are meaningful
+	if timeouts.ReadTimeout < time.Second {
+		log.Warn("Sanitizing invalid HTTP read timeout", "provided", timeouts.ReadTimeout, "updated", DefaultHTTPTimeouts.ReadTimeout)
+		timeouts.ReadTimeout = DefaultHTTPTimeouts.ReadTimeout
+	}
+	if timeouts.WriteTimeout < time.Second {
+		log.Warn("Sanitizing invalid HTTP write timeout", "provided", timeouts.WriteTimeout, "updated", DefaultHTTPTimeouts.WriteTimeout)
+		timeouts.WriteTimeout = DefaultHTTPTimeouts.WriteTimeout
+	}
+	if timeouts.IdleTimeout < time.Second {
+		log.Warn("Sanitizing invalid HTTP idle timeout", "provided", timeouts.IdleTimeout, "updated", DefaultHTTPTimeouts.IdleTimeout)
+		timeouts.IdleTimeout = DefaultHTTPTimeouts.IdleTimeout
+	}
+	// Bundle and start the HTTP server
 	return &http.Server{
 		Handler:      handler,
 		ReadTimeout:  timeouts.ReadTimeout,