diff --git a/lib/ruled/notification.lua b/lib/ruled/notification.lua
index 1e7f0acad..548a7b654 100644
--- a/lib/ruled/notification.lua
+++ b/lib/ruled/notification.lua
@@ -64,6 +64,14 @@ local naughty = require("naughty")
 -- @clientruleproperty append_actions
 -- @param table
 
+--- Set a fallback timeout the notification has no explicit timeout.
+--
+-- The value is in seconds. If none is specified, the default is 5 seconds. If
+-- the notification specifies its own timeout, this property will be skipped.
+--
+-- @clientruleproperty implicit_timeout
+-- @param number
+
 local nrules = matcher()
 
 local function client_match_common(n, prop, value)
@@ -107,6 +115,13 @@ nrules:add_property_setter("append_actions", function(n, value)
     n.actions = gtable.merge(new_actions, value)
 end)
 
+nrules:add_property_setter("implicit_timeout", function(n, value)
+    -- Check if there is an explicit timeout.
+    if not n._private.timeout then
+        n.timeout = value
+    end
+end)
+
 local module = {}
 
 gobject._setup_class_signals(module)