diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b0fe860..a8a13b4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -32,9 +32,11 @@ The `l4book` subscription first sends a snapshot of the entire book and then for
 
 ```bash
 cargo run --release --bin websocket_server -- --address 0.0.0.0 --port 8000
+# With custom inactivity timeout (e.g., 30s):
+cargo run --release --bin websocket_server -- --address 0.0.0.0 --port 8000 --inactivity-exit-secs 30
 ```
 
-If this local server does not detect the node writing down any new events, it will automatically exit after some amount of time (currently set to 5 seconds).
+If this local server does not detect the node writing down any new events, it will automatically exit after some amount of time (default 5 seconds; configurable via `--inactivity-exit-secs <secs>`).
 In addition, the local server periodically fetches order book snapshots from the node, and compares to its own internal state. If a difference is detected, it will exit.
 
 If you want logging, prepend the command with `RUST_LOG=info`.
diff --git a/binaries/src/bin/websocket_server.rs b/binaries/src/bin/websocket_server.rs
index 09a605f..b08eafb 100644
--- a/binaries/src/bin/websocket_server.rs
+++ b/binaries/src/bin/websocket_server.rs
@@ -25,6 +25,12 @@ struct Args {
     /// documentation for <https://docs.rs/flate2/1.1.2/flate2/struct.Compression.html#method.new> for more info.
     #[arg(long)]
     websocket_compression_level: Option<u32>,
+
+    /// Inactivity timeout in seconds before server exits.
+    /// If no node events are observed for this duration, the process exits.
+    /// Default is 5 seconds to match README behavior.
+    #[arg(long)]
+    inactivity_exit_secs: Option<u64>,
 }
 
 #[tokio::main]
@@ -37,7 +43,8 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
     println!("Running websocket server on {full_address}");
 
     let compression_level = args.websocket_compression_level.unwrap_or(/* Some compression */ 1);
-    run_websocket_server(&full_address, true, compression_level).await?;
+    let inactivity_exit_secs = args.inactivity_exit_secs.unwrap_or(5);
+    run_websocket_server(&full_address, true, compression_level, inactivity_exit_secs).await?;
 
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/server/src/listeners/order_book/mod.rs b/server/src/listeners/order_book/mod.rs
index fcd9425..a863704 100644
--- a/server/src/listeners/order_book/mod.rs
+++ b/server/src/listeners/order_book/mod.rs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ mod utils;
 
 // WARNING - this code assumes no other file system operations are occurring in the watched directories
 // if there are scripts running, this may not work as intended
-pub(crate) async fn hl_listen(listener: Arc<Mutex<OrderBookListener>>, dir: PathBuf) -> Result<()> {
+pub(crate) async fn hl_listen(listener: Arc<Mutex<OrderBookListener>>, dir: PathBuf, inactivity_exit_secs: u64) -> Result<()> {
     let order_statuses_dir = EventSource::OrderStatuses.event_source_dir(&dir).canonicalize()?;
     let fills_dir = EventSource::Fills.event_source_dir(&dir).canonicalize()?;
     let order_diffs_dir = EventSource::OrderDiffs.event_source_dir(&dir).canonicalize()?;
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn hl_listen(listener: Arc<Mutex<OrderBookListener>>, dir: Path
                 let snapshot_fetch_task_tx = snapshot_fetch_task_tx.clone();
                 fetch_snapshot(dir.clone(), listener, snapshot_fetch_task_tx, ignore_spot);
             }
-            () = sleep(Duration::from_secs(5)) => {
+            () = sleep(Duration::from_secs(inactivity_exit_secs)) => {
                 let listener = listener.lock().await;
                 if listener.is_ready() {
                     return Err(format!("Stream has fallen behind ({HL_NODE} failed?)").into());
diff --git a/server/src/servers/websocket_server.rs b/server/src/servers/websocket_server.rs
index 05d04fd..acf7d0d 100644
--- a/server/src/servers/websocket_server.rs
+++ b/server/src/servers/websocket_server.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ use tokio::{
 };
 use yawc::{FrameView, OpCode, WebSocket};
 
-pub async fn run_websocket_server(address: &str, ignore_spot: bool, compression_level: u32) -> Result<()> {
+pub async fn run_websocket_server(address: &str, ignore_spot: bool, compression_level: u32, inactivity_exit_secs: u64) -> Result<()> {
     let (internal_message_tx, _) = channel::<Arc<InternalMessage>>(100);
 
     // Central task: listen to messages and forward them for distribution
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ pub async fn run_websocket_server(address: &str, ignore_spot: bool, compression_
     {
         let listener = listener.clone();
         tokio::spawn(async move {
-            if let Err(err) = hl_listen(listener, home_dir).await {
+            if let Err(err) = hl_listen(listener, home_dir, inactivity_exit_secs).await {
                 error!("Listener fatal error: {err}");
                 std::process::exit(1);
             }