diff --git a/contrib/procpools/python_procpool.py b/contrib/procpools/python_procpool.py
index da2bc35c6e..11c46b9d75 100644
--- a/contrib/procpools/python_procpool.py
+++ b/contrib/procpools/python_procpool.py
@@ -111,10 +111,8 @@ class PythonProcPoolChild(AMPChild):
             try:
                 environment = from_pickle(environment)
                 available_vars.update(environment)
-            except Exception, e:
+            except Exception:
                 logger.log_trace()
-                _return(e)
-
         # try to execute with eval first
         try:
             ret = eval(source, {}, available_vars)
@@ -132,12 +130,14 @@ class PythonProcPoolChild(AMPChild):
         to_recache = to_pickle(objs, emptypickle=False) or ""
         # empty the list without loosing memory reference
         PROC_MODIFIED_OBJS[:] = []
-        print "... executecode done."
         return {'response': ret,
                 'recached': to_recache}
     ExecuteCode.responder(executecode)
 
 
+#
+# Procpool run_async - Server-side access function for executing code in another process
+#
 
 _PPOOL = None
 _SESSIONS = None
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ def run_async(to_execute, *args, **kwargs):
         except AttributeError:
             _PPOOL = False
 
-    use_timeout = kwargs.pop("proc_timeout", None)
+    use_timeout = kwargs.pop("proc_timeout", _PPOOL.timeout)
 
     # helper converters for callbacks/errbacks
     def convert_return(f):
diff --git a/contrib/procpools/python_procpool_plugin.py b/contrib/procpools/python_procpool_plugin.py
index 4bb8de7b21..c05180b22b 100644
--- a/contrib/procpools/python_procpool_plugin.py
+++ b/contrib/procpools/python_procpool_plugin.py
@@ -30,12 +30,13 @@ PROCPOOL_DEBUG = True
 PROCPOOL_MIN_NPROC = 5
 PROCPOOL_MAX_NPROC = 20
 # after sending a command, this is the maximum time in seconds the process
-# may run without returning. After this time the process will be killed
-PROCPOOL_TIMEOUT = 15
+# may run without returning. After this time the process will be killed. This
+# can be seen as a fallback; the run_async method takes a keyword proc_timeout
+# that will override this value on a per-case basis.
+PROCPOOL_TIMEOUT = 10
 # maximum time (seconds) a process may idle before being pruned from pool (if pool bigger than minsize)
 PROCPOOL_IDLETIME = 20
 # only change if the port clashes with something else on the system
-PROCPOOL_HOST = 'localhost'
 PROCPOOL_PORT = 5001
 # 0.0.0.0 means listening to all interfaces
 PROCPOOL_INTERFACE = '0.0.0.0'
@@ -96,6 +97,7 @@ def start_plugin_services(server):
                                         max=PROCPOOL_MAX_NPROC,
                                         recycleAfter=500,
                                         timeout=PROCPOOL_TIMEOUT,
+                                        maxIdle=PROCPOOL_IDLETIME,
                                         ampChild=PythonProcPoolChild,
                                         starter=procpool_starter)
     procpool_service = ampoule_service.AMPouleService(procpool,
diff --git a/contrib/procpools/python_run_async.py b/contrib/procpools/python_run_async.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 00839ba189..0000000000
--- a/contrib/procpools/python_run_async.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-
-#
-# Python Async runner - server-side AMP access function
-#
-