diff --git a/org.springframework.orm/src/main/java/org/springframework/orm/jpa/EntityManagerFactoryUtils.java b/org.springframework.orm/src/main/java/org/springframework/orm/jpa/EntityManagerFactoryUtils.java
index 8e5fc87af56..9196b8dee4f 100644
--- a/org.springframework.orm/src/main/java/org/springframework/orm/jpa/EntityManagerFactoryUtils.java
+++ b/org.springframework.orm/src/main/java/org/springframework/orm/jpa/EntityManagerFactoryUtils.java
@@ -263,8 +263,18 @@ public abstract class EntityManagerFactoryUtils {
 		EntityManagerHolder emHolder = (EntityManagerHolder) TransactionSynchronizationManager.getResource(emf);
 		if (emHolder != null && emHolder.hasTimeout()) {
 			int timeoutValue = (int) emHolder.getTimeToLiveInMillis();
-			query.setHint("javax.persistence.lock.timeout", timeoutValue);
-			query.setHint("javax.persistence.query.timeout", timeoutValue);
+			try {
+				query.setHint("javax.persistence.lock.timeout", timeoutValue);
+			}
+			catch (IllegalArgumentException ex) {
+				// oh well, at least we tried...
+			}
+			try {
+				query.setHint("javax.persistence.query.timeout", timeoutValue);
+			}
+			catch (IllegalArgumentException ex) {
+				// once again, at least we tried...
+			}
 		}
 	}