diff --git a/config.toml b/config.toml
index dbacd08..e179e89 100644
--- a/config.toml
+++ b/config.toml
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ port = 8080
 #remote_ip_header = "x-forwarded-for"
 #remote_ip_header = "cf-connecting-ip"
 
+# Websocket ping interval in seconds, defaults to 5 minutes
+#ping_interval = 300
+
 [options]
 # Reject events that have timestamps greater than this many seconds in
 # the future.  Recommended to reject anything greater than 30 minutes
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index 62eac74..4787320 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ pub struct Network {
     pub port: u16,
     pub address: String,
     pub remote_ip_header: Option<String>, // retrieve client IP from this HTTP header if present
+    pub ping_interval: u32,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
@@ -207,6 +208,7 @@ impl Default for Settings {
             },
             network: Network {
                 port: 8080,
+                ping_interval: 300,
                 address: "0.0.0.0".to_owned(),
                 remote_ip_header: None,
             },
diff --git a/src/server.rs b/src/server.rs
index 1f4e799..c5e11a1 100644
--- a/src/server.rs
+++ b/src/server.rs
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ async fn nostr_server(
     let mut last_message_time = Instant::now();
 
     // ping interval (every 5 minutes)
-    let default_ping_dur = Duration::from_secs(300);
+    let default_ping_dur = Duration::from_secs(settings.network.ping_interval.into());
 
     // disconnect after 20 minutes without a ping response or event.
     let max_quiet_time = Duration::from_secs(60 * 20);