diff --git a/mininet/clean.py b/mininet/clean.py
index c5ef1ab8bb1bfb280180ab29201765e5f71e7698..2911edba01171c59c491ef9ae9e7baaf5504e31b 100755
--- a/mininet/clean.py
+++ b/mininet/clean.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def cleanup():
             sh( 'dpctl deldp ' + dp )
 
     info( "***  Removing OVS datapaths" )
-    dps = sh("ovs-vsctl list-br").split( '\n' )
+    dps = sh("ovs-vsctl --timeout=1 list-br").split( '\n' )
     for dp in dps:
         if dp:
             sh( 'ovs-vsctl del-br ' + dp )