diff --git a/pkg/systemd/sysconfig.template b/pkg/systemd/sysconfig.template
index d54bd920..fb3b2eb9 100644
--- a/pkg/systemd/sysconfig.template
+++ b/pkg/systemd/sysconfig.template
@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@
 #   0 = force unlimited
 # Default is auto.
 # FLAGS_rx_rate_limit=-1
+#
+# Set OpenFlow echo request timeout in seconds:
+# FLAGS_of_timeout_echo=6
+#
+# Set OpenFlow idle delay for sending echo requests:
+# FLAGS_of_timeout_lifecheck=10
 
 ### glog logging configuration
 #
diff --git a/src/baseboxd.cc b/src/baseboxd.cc
index 11ec138a..da8fcf96 100644
--- a/src/baseboxd.cc
+++ b/src/baseboxd.cc
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ DEFINE_int32(port_untagged_vid, 1,
 DEFINE_int32(
     rx_rate_limit, -1,
     "PPS limit for traffic to controller (-1 = auto, 0 = force unlimited)");
+DEFINE_int32(of_timeout_echo, 6, "timeout of sent echo requests");
+DEFINE_int32(of_timeout_lifecheck, 10, "delay of life check after last rx");
 
 static bool validate_port(const char *flagname, gflags::int32 value) {
   VLOG(3) << __FUNCTION__ << ": flagname=" << flagname << ", value=" << value;
@@ -67,8 +69,10 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
   }
 
   // all variables can be set from env
-  FLAGS_tryfromenv = std::string("multicast,port,ofdpa_grpc_port,use_knet,mark_"
-                                 "fwd_offload,port_untagged_vid");
+  FLAGS_tryfromenv =
+      std::string("multicast,port,ofdpa_grpc_port,use_knet,mark_"
+                  "fwd_offload,port_untagged_vid,of_timeout_lifecheck,of_"
+                  "timeout_echo");
   gflags::SetUsageMessage("");
   gflags::SetVersionString(PROJECT_VERSION);
 
diff --git a/src/of-dpa/controller.cc b/src/of-dpa/controller.cc
index d9a2e1c6..fe6343ea 100644
--- a/src/of-dpa/controller.cc
+++ b/src/of-dpa/controller.cc
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ DECLARE_bool(clear_switch_configuration);
 DECLARE_bool(use_knet);
 DECLARE_int32(rx_rate_limit);
 
+DECLARE_int32(of_timeout_echo);
+DECLARE_int32(of_timeout_lifecheck);
+
 namespace basebox {
 
 void controller::handle_conn_established(rofl::crofdpt &dpt,
@@ -53,6 +56,10 @@ void controller::handle_dpt_open(rofl::crofdpt &dpt) {
 
   // set max queue size in rofl
   dpt.set_conn(rofl::cauxid(0)).set_txqueue_max_size(128 * 1024);
+  // set timeout limits
+  dpt.set_conn(rofl::cauxid(0)).set_timeout_echo(FLAGS_of_timeout_echo);
+  dpt.set_conn(rofl::cauxid(0))
+      .set_timeout_lifecheck(FLAGS_of_timeout_lifecheck);
 
   rofl::csockaddr raddr = dpt.set_conn(rofl::cauxid(0)).get_raddr();
   std::string buf;