eval {
    local $SIG{ALRM} = sub { die "alarm timeout" };
    local $SIG{__DIE__} = sub { alarm 0; die @_ };
    alarm 2;
    print "calling";
    # This prints out calling, and hangs forever, never printing "done"
    $string = unac_string('UTF-8', $string);
    print "done";
    alarm 0;
};