diff --git a/documentation/client.rst b/documentation/client.rst
index 26bf2f2..73aedff 100644
--- a/documentation/client.rst
+++ b/documentation/client.rst
@@ -25,6 +25,14 @@ EPICS_PVA_AUTO_ADDR_LIST
 EPICS_PVA_BROADCAST_PORT
     Default UDP port to which UDP searches will be sent.  5076 if unset.
 
+EPICS_PVA_CONN_TMO
+    Inactivity timeout for TCP connections.  For compatibility with pvAccessCPP
+    a multiplier of 4/3 is applied.  So a value of 30 results in a 40 second timeout.
+    Prior to UNRELEASED this variable was ignored.
+
+.. versionadded:: UNRELEASED
+    Prior to UNRELEASED *EPICS_PVA_CONN_TMO* was ignored.
+
 .. code-block:: c++
 
     using namespace pvxs;
diff --git a/documentation/server.rst b/documentation/server.rst
index 3f87fcc..47d9d15 100644
--- a/documentation/server.rst
+++ b/documentation/server.rst
@@ -74,6 +74,13 @@ EPICS_PVAS_IGNORE_ADDR_LIST
     Port zero is treated as a wildcard to match any port.
     UDP traffic from matched addresses will be ignored with no further processing.
 
+EPICS_PVA_CONN_TMO
+    Inactivity timeout for TCP connections.  For compatibility with pvAccessCPP
+    a multiplier of 4/3 is applied.  So a value of 30 results in a 40 second timeout.
+
+.. versionadded:: UNRELEASED
+    Prior to UNRELEASED *EPICS_PVA_CONN_TMO* was ignored.
+
 .. doxygenstruct:: pvxs::server::Config
     :members:
 
diff --git a/src/clientconn.cpp b/src/clientconn.cpp
index 52a2799..7680d24 100644
--- a/src/clientconn.cpp
+++ b/src/clientconn.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ Connection::Connection(const std::shared_ptr<Context::Pvt>& context, const SockA
     bufferevent_setcb(bev.get(), &bevReadS, nullptr, &bevEventS, this);
 
     // shorter timeout until connect() ?
-    bufferevent_set_timeouts(bev.get(), &tcp_timeout, &tcp_timeout);
+    timeval tmo(totv(context->effective.tcpTimeout));
+    bufferevent_set_timeouts(bev.get(), &tmo, &tmo);
 
     if(bufferevent_socket_connect(bev.get(), const_cast<sockaddr*>(&peerAddr->sa), peerAddr.size()))
         throw std::runtime_error("Unable to begin connecting");
@@ -99,7 +100,10 @@ void Connection::bevEvent(short events)
             throw std::logic_error("Unable to enable BEV");
 
         // start echo timer
-        if(event_add(echoTimer.get(), &tcp_echo_period))
+        // tcpTimeout(40) -> 15 second echo period
+        // bound echo to range [1, 15]
+        timeval tmo(totv(std::max(1.0, std::min(15.0, context->effective.tcpTimeout*3.0/8.0))));
+        if(event_add(echoTimer.get(), &tmo))
             log_err_printf(io, "Server %s error starting echoTimer\n", peerName.c_str());
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/config.cpp b/src/config.cpp
index 1af3766..03dfdc2 100644
--- a/src/config.cpp
+++ b/src/config.cpp
@@ -8,9 +8,13 @@
 #include <vector>
 #include <string>
 #include <sstream>
+#include <limits>
+#include <cmath>
 
 #include <dbDefs.h>
 #include <osiSock.h>
+#include <epicsMath.h>
+#include <epicsStdlib.h>
 #include <epicsString.h>
 
 #include <pvxs/log.h>
@@ -25,6 +29,14 @@ DEFINE_LOGGER(config, "pvxs.config");
 namespace pvxs {
 
 namespace {
+
+/* Historically pvAccessCPP used $EPICS_PVA_CONN_TMO as the period
+ * between sending CMD_ECHO.  *::Config::tcpTimeout is the actual
+ * inactivity timeout period.  Apply a scaling factor to add a
+ * go from one to the other.
+ */
+constexpr double tmoScale = 4.0/3.0; // 40 second idle timeout / 30 configured
+
 void split_addr_into(const char* name, std::vector<std::string>& out, const std::string& inp,
                      uint16_t defaultPort, bool required=false)
 {
@@ -88,6 +100,24 @@ void parse_bool(bool& dest, const std::string& name, const std::string& val)
     }
 }
 
+void parse_timeout(double& dest, const std::string& name, const std::string& val)
+{
+    double temp;
+    try {
+        temp = parseTo<double>(val);
+
+        if(!std::isfinite(temp)
+                || temp<0.0
+                || temp>double(std::numeric_limits<time_t>::max()))
+            throw std::out_of_range("Out of range");
+
+        dest = temp*tmoScale;
+    } catch(std::exception& e) {
+        log_err_printf(serversetup, "%s invalid double value : '%s'\n",
+                       name.c_str(), val.c_str());
+    }
+}
+
 struct PickOne {
     const std::map<std::string, std::string>& defs;
     bool useenv;
@@ -153,6 +183,26 @@ void removeDups(std::vector<std::string>& addrs)
                 addrs.end());
 }
 
+void enforceTimeout(double& tmo)
+{
+    /* Inactivity timeouts with PVA have a long (and growing) history.
+     *
+     * - Originally pvAccessCPP clients didn't send CMD_ECHO, and servers would never timeout.
+     * - Since module version 7.0.0 (in Base 7.0.3) clients send echo every 15 seconds, and
+     *   either peer will timeout after 30 seconds of inactivity.
+     * - pvAccessJava clients send CMD_ECHO every 30 seconds, and timeout after 60 seconds.
+     *
+     * So this was a bug, with c++ server timeout racing with Java client echo.
+     *
+     * - As a compromise, continue to send echo at least every 15 seconds,
+     *   and increase default timeout to 40.
+     */
+    if(!std::isfinite(tmo) || tmo <= 0.0 || tmo >= double(std::numeric_limits<time_t>::max()))
+        tmo = 40.0;
+    else if(tmo < 2.0)
+        tmo = 2.0;
+}
+
 } // namespace
 
 namespace server {
@@ -193,6 +243,10 @@ void _fromDefs(Config& self, const std::map<std::string, std::string>& defs, boo
     if(pickone({"EPICS_PVAS_AUTO_BEACON_ADDR_LIST", "EPICS_PVA_AUTO_ADDR_LIST"})) {
         parse_bool(self.auto_beacon, pickone.name, pickone.val);
     }
+
+    if(pickone({"EPICS_PVA_CONN_TMO"})) {
+        parse_timeout(self.tcpTimeout, pickone.name, pickone.val);
+    }
 }
 
 Config& Config::applyEnv()
@@ -228,6 +282,7 @@ void Config::updateDefs(defs_t& defs) const
     defs["EPICS_PVA_ADDR_LIST"]      = defs["EPICS_PVAS_BEACON_ADDR_LIST"] = join_addr(beaconDestinations);
     defs["EPICS_PVA_INTF_ADDR_LIST"] = defs["EPICS_PVAS_INTF_ADDR_LIST"]   = join_addr(interfaces);
     defs["EPICS_PVAS_IGNORE_ADDR_LIST"]   = join_addr(ignoreAddrs);
+    defs["EPICS_PVA_CONN_TMO"] = SB()<<tcpTimeout/tmoScale;
 }
 
 void Config::expand()
@@ -246,6 +301,8 @@ void Config::expand()
     removeDups(interfaces);
     removeDups(beaconDestinations);
     removeDups(ignoreAddrs);
+
+    enforceTimeout(tcpTimeout);
 }
 
 std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& strm, const Config& conf)
@@ -273,6 +330,8 @@ std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& strm, const Config& conf)
 
     strm<<indent{}<<"EPICS_PVAS_BROADCAST_PORT="<<conf.udp_port<<'\n';
 
+    strm<<indent{}<<"EPICS_PVA_CONN_TMO="<<conf.tcpTimeout/tmoScale<<'\n';
+
     return strm;
 }
 
@@ -308,6 +367,10 @@ void _fromDefs(Config& self, const std::map<std::string, std::string>& defs, boo
     if(pickone({"EPICS_PVA_INTF_ADDR_LIST"})) {
         split_addr_into(pickone.name.c_str(), self.interfaces, pickone.val, 0);
     }
+
+    if(pickone({"EPICS_PVA_CONN_TMO"})) {
+        parse_timeout(self.tcpTimeout, pickone.name, pickone.val);
+    }
 }
 
 Config& Config::applyEnv()
@@ -328,6 +391,7 @@ void Config::updateDefs(defs_t& defs) const
     defs["EPICS_PVA_AUTO_ADDR_LIST"] = autoAddrList ? "YES" : "NO";
     defs["EPICS_PVA_ADDR_LIST"] = join_addr(addressList);
     defs["EPICS_PVA_INTF_ADDR_LIST"] = join_addr(interfaces);
+    defs["EPICS_PVA_CONN_TMO"] = SB()<<tcpTimeout/tmoScale;
 }
 
 void Config::expand()
@@ -344,6 +408,8 @@ void Config::expand()
     }
 
     removeDups(addressList);
+
+    enforceTimeout(tcpTimeout);
 }
 
 std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& strm, const Config& conf)
@@ -365,6 +431,8 @@ std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& strm, const Config& conf)
 
     strm<<indent{}<<"EPICS_PVA_BROADCAST_PORT="<<conf.udp_port<<'\n';
 
+    strm<<indent{}<<"EPICS_PVA_CONN_TMO="<<conf.tcpTimeout/tmoScale<<'\n';
+
     return strm;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/conn.h b/src/conn.h
index b425af8..0007b50 100644
--- a/src/conn.h
+++ b/src/conn.h
@@ -19,20 +19,6 @@ namespace impl {
 // Also bounds the loop in ConnBase::bevRead()
 constexpr size_t tcp_readahead = 0x1000u;
 
-/* Inactivity timeouts with PVA have a long (and growing) history.
- *
- * - Originally pvAccessCPP clients didn't send CMD_ECHO, and servers would never timeout.
- * - Since module version 7.0.0 (in Base 7.0.3) clients send echo every 15 seconds, and
- *   either peer will timeout after 30 seconds of inactivity.
- * - pvAccessJava clients send CMD_ECHO every 30 seconds, and timeout after 60 seconds.
- *
- * So this was a bug, with c++ server timeout racing with Java client echo.
- *
- * - As a compromise, continue to send echo every 15 seconds, but increase timeout to 40.
- */
-constexpr timeval tcp_timeout{40, 0};
-constexpr timeval tcp_echo_period{15, 0};
-
 struct ConnBase
 {
     SockAddr peerAddr;
diff --git a/src/pvxs/client.h b/src/pvxs/client.h
index 526a110..3059271 100644
--- a/src/pvxs/client.h
+++ b/src/pvxs/client.h
@@ -714,6 +714,10 @@ struct PVXS_API Config {
     //! Whether to extend the addressList with local interface broadcast addresses.  (recommended)
     bool autoAddrList = true;
 
+    //! Inactivity timeout interval for TCP connections.  (seconds)
+    //! @since UNRELEASED
+    double tcpTimeout = 40.0;
+
     // compat
     static inline Config from_env() { return Config{}.applyEnv(); }
 
diff --git a/src/pvxs/server.h b/src/pvxs/server.h
index d236f81..a36aaaf 100644
--- a/src/pvxs/server.h
+++ b/src/pvxs/server.h
@@ -149,6 +149,10 @@ struct PVXS_API Config {
     //! Whether to populate the beacon address list automatically.  (recommended)
     bool auto_beacon = true;
 
+    //! Inactivity timeout interval for TCP connections.  (seconds)
+    //! @since UNRELEASED
+    double tcpTimeout = 40.0;
+
     //! Server unique ID.  Only meaningful in readback via Server::config()
     ServerGUID guid{};
 
diff --git a/src/serverconn.cpp b/src/serverconn.cpp
index f23075c..4fccbab 100644
--- a/src/serverconn.cpp
+++ b/src/serverconn.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ ServerConn::ServerConn(ServIface* iface, evutil_socket_t sock, struct sockaddr *
 
     bufferevent_setcb(bev.get(), &bevReadS, &bevWriteS, &bevEventS, this);
 
-    bufferevent_set_timeouts(bev.get(), &tcp_timeout, &tcp_timeout);
+    timeval tmo(totv(iface->server->effective.tcpTimeout));
+    bufferevent_set_timeouts(bev.get(), &tmo, &tmo);
 
     auto tx = bufferevent_get_output(bev.get());
 
diff --git a/src/utilpvt.h b/src/utilpvt.h
index af2c64f..0ff6692 100644
--- a/src/utilpvt.h
+++ b/src/utilpvt.h
@@ -251,6 +251,15 @@ public:
 PVXS_API
 std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& strm, const SockAddr& addr);
 
+inline
+timeval totv(double t)
+{
+    timeval ret;
+    ret.tv_sec = t;
+    ret.tv_usec = (t - ret.tv_sec)*1e6;
+    return ret;
+}
+
 //! Scoped restore of std::ostream state (format flags, fill char, and field width)
 struct Restore {
     std::ostream& strm;