diff --git a/packages/aws-appsync-subscription-link/src/realtime-subscription-handshake-link.ts b/packages/aws-appsync-subscription-link/src/realtime-subscription-handshake-link.ts
index e8a4348a..fde9b1cd 100644
--- a/packages/aws-appsync-subscription-link/src/realtime-subscription-handshake-link.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-appsync-subscription-link/src/realtime-subscription-handshake-link.ts
@@ -62,15 +62,16 @@ export class AppSyncRealTimeSubscriptionHandshakeLink extends ApolloLink {
   private awsRealTimeSocket: WebSocket;
   private socketStatus: SOCKET_STATUS = SOCKET_STATUS.CLOSED;
   private keepAliveTimeoutId;
-  private keepAliveTimeout = DEFAULT_KEEP_ALIVE_TIMEOUT;
+  private keepAliveTimeout;
   private subscriptionObserverMap: Map<string, ObserverQuery> = new Map();
   private promiseArray: Array<{ res: Function; rej: Function }> = [];
 
-  constructor({ url: theUrl, region: theRegion, auth: theAuth }: UrlInfo) {
+  constructor({ url: theUrl, region: theRegion, auth: theAuth, keepAliveTimeout: keepAliveTimeout }: UrlInfo) {
     super();
     this.url = theUrl;
     this.region = theRegion;
     this.auth = theAuth;
+    this.keepAliveTimeout = keepAliveTimeout || DEFAULT_KEEP_ALIVE_TIMEOUT;
   }
 
   request(operation: Operation) {
diff --git a/packages/aws-appsync-subscription-link/src/types/index.ts b/packages/aws-appsync-subscription-link/src/types/index.ts
index 82d8a07e..6f83bc72 100644
--- a/packages/aws-appsync-subscription-link/src/types/index.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-appsync-subscription-link/src/types/index.ts
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ export type UrlInfo = {
   url: string;
   auth: AuthOptions;
   region: string;
+  keepAliveTimeout?: number;
 };
 
 export type ObserverQuery = {