diff --git a/acinclude.m4 b/acinclude.m4
index 9194de8e7d..c083e27c96 100644
--- a/acinclude.m4
+++ b/acinclude.m4
@@ -1185,6 +1185,8 @@ else
   
 fi
 
+AC_CHECK_RESOLV_RETRANS
+
 AC_CACHE_VAL(ac_cv_setsockopt_iprecverr,
 [
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([for setsockopt(, SOL_IP, IP_RECVERR)])
diff --git a/src/auth/cellconfig.c b/src/auth/cellconfig.c
index 18a286bd41..7cba99a2c4 100644
--- a/src/auth/cellconfig.c
+++ b/src/auth/cellconfig.c
@@ -1027,6 +1027,18 @@ afsconf_LookupServer(const char *service, const char *protocol,
     if (!dotcellname)
 	return AFSCONF_NOTFOUND;	/* service not found */
 
+#ifdef HAVE_RES_RETRANSRETRY
+    if ((_res.options & RES_INIT) == 0 && res_init() == -1)
+      return (0);
+
+    /*
+     * Rx timeout is typically 56 seconds; limit user experience to
+     * similar timeout
+     */
+    _res.retrans = 18;
+    _res.retry = 3;
+#endif
+
  retryafsdb:
     switch (pass) {
     case 0:
diff --git a/src/cf/ressearch.m4 b/src/cf/ressearch.m4
index c8cc0f4cc1..d2cab435a8 100644
--- a/src/cf/ressearch.m4
+++ b/src/cf/ressearch.m4
@@ -1,3 +1,26 @@
+AC_DEFUN([AC_CHECK_RESOLV_RETRANS],[
+  AC_CACHE_CHECK([for retransmit support in res_state], [ac_cv_res_retransretry],[
+  AC_TRY_RUN( [
+#include <sys/types.h>
+#if defined(__sun__)
+#include <inet/ip.h>
+#endif
+#include <resolv.h>
+int main(void) {
+    _res.retrans = 2;
+    _res.retry = 1;
+    exit(0);
+}
+],[
+  ac_cv_res_retransretry=1
+],[
+  ac_cv_res_retransretry=
+],[
+  ac_cv_res_retransretry="no"
+])])
+AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([HAVE_RES_RETRANSRETRY], [$ac_cv_res_retransretry], [Define if resolv.h's res_state has the fields retrans/rety])
+])
+
 AC_DEFUN([AC_FUNC_RES_SEARCH], [
   ac_cv_func_res_search=no
   AC_TRY_LINK([