diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index b790c5a..3441b8a 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 var iniparser = require('iniparser');
 var config = iniparser.parseSync('./config.ini');
 
+if (config.yahoomessenger.keepalive_interval == null) {
+  config.yahoomessenger.keepalive_interval = 60;
+}
+
 var strftime = require('strftime');
 
 var pollingTimer;