diff --git a/src/libstore/build.cc b/src/libstore/build.cc
index 1370568109..5be2b1481e 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build.cc
@@ -3231,7 +3231,7 @@ void Worker::waitForInput()
             after - before >= (time_t) settings.buildTimeout)
         {
             printMsg(lvlError,
-                format("%1% timed out after %2% seconds of activity")
+                format("%1% timed out after %2% seconds")
                 % goal->getName() % settings.buildTimeout);
             goal->cancel();
         }
diff --git a/src/nix-daemon/nix-daemon.cc b/src/nix-daemon/nix-daemon.cc
index 9c6766557d..a3ab1d068b 100644
--- a/src/nix-daemon/nix-daemon.cc
+++ b/src/nix-daemon/nix-daemon.cc
@@ -551,7 +551,10 @@ static void performOp(unsigned int clientVersion,
             for (unsigned int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
                 string name = readString(from);
                 string value = readString(from);
-                settings.set("untrusted-" + name, value);
+                if (name == "build-timeout")
+                    string2Int(value, settings.buildTimeout);
+                else
+                    settings.set("untrusted-" + name, value);
             }
         }
         startWork();
@@ -895,8 +898,6 @@ static void daemonLoop()
 
 void run(Strings args)
 {
-    bool daemon = false;
-
     for (Strings::iterator i = args.begin(); i != args.end(); ) {
         string arg = *i++;
         if (arg == "--daemon") /* ignored for backwards compatibility */;