diff --git a/src/ble/alerts/FailedToConnect.tsx b/src/ble/alerts/FailedToConnect.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5e56aa0a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ble/alerts/FailedToConnect.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+// Copyright (c) 2023 The Pybricks Authors
+
+import { Intent } from '@blueprintjs/core';
+import React from 'react';
+import type { CreateToast } from '../../toasterTypes';
+import { useI18n } from './i18n';
+
+const FailedToConnect: React.VoidFunctionComponent = () => {
+    const i18n = useI18n();
+    return (
+        <>
+            <p>{i18n.translate('failedToConnect.message')}</p>
+            <p>{i18n.translate('failedToConnect.suggestion')}</p>
+        </>
+    );
+};
+
+export const failedToConnect: CreateToast = (onAction) => ({
+    message: <FailedToConnect />,
+    icon: 'error',
+    intent: Intent.DANGER,
+    onDismiss: () => onAction('dismiss'),
+});
diff --git a/src/ble/alerts/index.ts b/src/ble/alerts/index.ts
index 22b7ffc04..7bd17973d 100644
--- a/src/ble/alerts/index.ts
+++ b/src/ble/alerts/index.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
-// Copyright (c) 2022 The Pybricks Authors
+// Copyright (c) 2022-2023 The Pybricks Authors
 
 import { bluetoothNotAvailable } from './BluetoothNotAvailable';
+import { failedToConnect } from './FailedToConnect';
 import { missingService } from './MissingService';
 import { noGatt } from './NoGatt';
 import { noHub } from './NoHub';
@@ -11,6 +12,7 @@ import { oldFirmware } from './OldFirmware';
 // gathers all of the alert creation functions for passing up to the top level
 export default {
     bluetoothNotAvailable,
+    failedToConnect,
     missingService,
     noGatt,
     noHub,
diff --git a/src/ble/alerts/translations/en.json b/src/ble/alerts/translations/en.json
index 97c4da8bc..7efe8d07a 100644
--- a/src/ble/alerts/translations/en.json
+++ b/src/ble/alerts/translations/en.json
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@
     "noGatt": {
         "message": "The web browser did not give permission to use Bluetooth Low Energy."
     },
+    "failedToConnect": {
+        "message": "Failed to connect.",
+        "suggestion": "Is the hub still turned on with no programs running?"
+    },
     "missingService": {
         "message": "Connected to hub but failed to get {serviceName} service.",
         "suggestion1": "Ensure that you are using the most recent firmware.",
diff --git a/src/ble/sagas.ts b/src/ble/sagas.ts
index e5aa87e82..e6d881f7a 100644
--- a/src/ble/sagas.ts
+++ b/src/ble/sagas.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
-// Copyright (c) 2020-2022 The Pybricks Authors
+// Copyright (c) 2020-2023 The Pybricks Authors
 //
 // Manages connection to a Bluetooth Low Energy device running Pybricks firmware.
 
@@ -146,6 +146,9 @@ function* handleBleConnectPybricks(): Generator {
                 }),
         );
 
+        // TODO: remove debug print
+        console.log('device', device);
+
         if (!device) {
             yield* put(alertsShowAlert('ble', 'noHub'));
             yield* put(bleDidFailToConnectPybricks());
@@ -181,7 +184,39 @@ function* handleBleConnectPybricks(): Generator {
 
         defer.push(() => disconnectChannel.close());
 
-        const server = yield* call(() => gatt.connect());
+        const timeout = setTimeout(() => {
+            // TODO: remove debug print
+            console.log('calling disconnect');
+            gatt.disconnect();
+        }, 10000);
+
+        const server = yield* call(() =>
+            gatt.connect().catch((err) => {
+                // TODO: remove debug print
+                console.error(err);
+
+                // timeout or other connection problem
+                if (err instanceof DOMException && err.name === 'AbortError') {
+                    return undefined;
+                }
+
+                throw err;
+            }),
+        );
+
+        clearTimeout(timeout);
+
+        // TODO: remove debug print
+        console.log(server);
+
+        if (!server) {
+            yield* put(alertsShowAlert('ble', 'failedToConnect'));
+            yield* put(bleDidFailToConnectPybricks());
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // TODO: remove debug print
+        console.log('server', server);
 
         defer.push(() => server.disconnect());