$ . ajax ({ url : 'someurl' , type : 'POST' , data : ...., tryCount : 0 , retryLimit : 3 , success : function ( json ) { //do something }, error : function ( xhr , textStatus , errorThrown ) { if ( textStatus == 'timeout' ) { this . tryCount ++; if ( this . tryCount <= this . retryLimit ) { //try again $ . ajax ( this ); return ; } return ; } if ( xhr . status == 500 ) { //handle error } else { //handle error } } });