{
  local $SIG{ ALRM } = sub { die 'timeout' };
  alarm( MAX_SECONDS );
  eval {
    molasses_in_january();
    alarm( 0 );
  };
  if ( $@ ) {
    die if $@ !~ /timeout/;
    handle_timeout();
  }
}

##</code><code>##

$cowbell = eval { more_cowbell() };
# eval errors blithely ignored

...

# in some other code, far, far away
die 'i got a fever' unless $cowbell;