diff --git a/src/ai_typewriter/ai_client.py b/src/ai_typewriter/ai_client.py
index 2783fd2..584aac8 100644
--- a/src/ai_typewriter/ai_client.py
+++ b/src/ai_typewriter/ai_client.py
@@ -34,6 +34,13 @@ def _ask_ollama(prompt: str, config: AppConfig) -> str:
         response = requests.post(url, json=payload, timeout=config.request_timeout_seconds)
         response.raise_for_status()
         data = response.json()
+    except requests.Timeout as exc:
+        timeout_label = "désactivé" if config.request_timeout_seconds is None else f"{config.request_timeout_seconds:.0f} s"
+        raise AIClientError(
+            "Ollama n'a pas répondu avant le délai configuré "
+            f"({timeout_label}). Le modèle est peut-être en chargement ou trop lent; "
+            "augmentez request_timeout_seconds dans config.json, ou mettez 0 pour désactiver le timeout."
+        ) from exc
     except requests.RequestException as exc:
         raise AIClientError(f"Erreur Ollama: {exc}") from exc
     except ValueError as exc:
@@ -65,6 +72,13 @@ def _ask_gemini(prompt: str, config: AppConfig) -> str:
         )
         response.raise_for_status()
         data = response.json()
+    except requests.Timeout as exc:
+        timeout_label = "désactivé" if config.request_timeout_seconds is None else f"{config.request_timeout_seconds:.0f} s"
+        raise AIClientError(
+            "Gemini n'a pas répondu avant le délai configuré "
+            f"({timeout_label}). Augmentez request_timeout_seconds dans config.json, "
+            "ou mettez 0 pour désactiver le timeout."
+        ) from exc
     except requests.RequestException as exc:
         raise AIClientError(f"Erreur Gemini: {exc}") from exc
     except ValueError as exc: