diff --git a/server/configs/reload/reload.conf b/server/configs/reload/reload.conf
index 068500b328b..88d7dbd9dec 100644
--- a/server/configs/reload/reload.conf
+++ b/server/configs/reload/reload.conf
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ logtime_utc:   true # enable on reload
 log_file:         "nats-server.log" # change on reload
 pid_file:         "nats-server.pid" # change on reload
 max_control_line: 512 # change on reload
+hb_interval:      5 # change on reload
 ping_interval:    5 # change on reload
 ping_max:         1 # change on reload
 write_deadline:   "3s" # change on reload
diff --git a/server/configs/test.conf b/server/configs/test.conf
index 3daa21687d0..0bd79d3521a 100644
--- a/server/configs/test.conf
+++ b/server/configs/test.conf
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ max_control_line: 2048
 # maximum payload
 max_payload: 65536
 
+# heartbeat interval
+hb_interval: "30s"
+
 # ping interval and no pong threshold
 ping_interval: "60s"
 ping_max: 3
diff --git a/server/const.go b/server/const.go
index 6b0bda6f955..a75976b5a1c 100644
--- a/server/const.go
+++ b/server/const.go
@@ -85,6 +85,9 @@ const (
 	// AUTH_TIMEOUT is the authorization wait time.
 	AUTH_TIMEOUT = 2 * time.Second
 
+	// DEFAULT_HB_INTERVAL is how often miscellaneous HeartBeat operations occur.
+	DEFAULT_HB_INTERVAL = 30 * time.Second
+
 	// DEFAULT_PING_INTERVAL is how often pings are sent to clients, etc...
 	DEFAULT_PING_INTERVAL = 2 * time.Minute
 
diff --git a/server/consumer.go b/server/consumer.go
index fa593c4378b..e66f60286d9 100644
--- a/server/consumer.go
+++ b/server/consumer.go
@@ -2120,7 +2120,7 @@ func (o *consumer) checkAndSetPendingRequestsOk() {
 				if !versionAtLeast(si.(nodeInfo).version, 2, 7, 1) {
 					// We expect all of our peers to eventually be up to date.
 					// So check again in awhile.
-					time.AfterFunc(eventsHBInterval, func() { o.checkAndSetPendingRequestsOk() })
+					time.AfterFunc(s.opts.HBInterval, func() { o.checkAndSetPendingRequestsOk() })
 					o.setPendingRequestsOk(false)
 					return
 				}
diff --git a/server/events.go b/server/events.go
index e5e6af5d52d..47e1356a5a3 100644
--- a/server/events.go
+++ b/server/events.go
@@ -94,9 +94,6 @@ const (
 	ocspPeerChainlinkInvalidEventSubj = "$SYS.SERVER.%s.OCSP.PEER.LINK.INVALID"
 )
 
-// FIXME(dlc) - make configurable.
-var eventsHBInterval = 30 * time.Second
-
 type sysMsgHandler func(sub *subscription, client *client, acc *Account, subject, reply string, hdr, msg []byte)
 
 // Used if we have to queue things internally to avoid the route/gw path.
@@ -2044,9 +2041,9 @@ func (s *Server) sendAccConnsUpdate(a *Account, subj ...string) {
 	} else {
 		// Check to see if we have an HB running and update.
 		if a.ctmr == nil {
-			a.ctmr = time.AfterFunc(eventsHBInterval, func() { s.accConnsUpdate(a) })
+			a.ctmr = time.AfterFunc(s.opts.HBInterval, func() { s.accConnsUpdate(a) })
 		} else {
-			a.ctmr.Reset(eventsHBInterval)
+			a.ctmr.Reset(s.opts.HBInterval)
 		}
 	}
 	for _, sub := range subj {
diff --git a/server/events_test.go b/server/events_test.go
index e3541999bad..87ad711ef93 100644
--- a/server/events_test.go
+++ b/server/events_test.go
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func runTrustedServer(t *testing.T) (*Server, *Options) {
 	return s, opts
 }
 
-func runTrustedCluster(t *testing.T) (*Server, *Options, *Server, *Options, nkeys.KeyPair) {
+func startTrustedCluster(t *testing.T, optsA *Options) (*Server, *Options, *Server, *Options, nkeys.KeyPair) {
 	t.Helper()
 
 	kp, _ := nkeys.FromSeed(oSeed)
@@ -102,7 +102,6 @@ func runTrustedCluster(t *testing.T) (*Server, *Options, *Server, *Options, nkey
 
 	mr.Store(apub, jwt)
 
-	optsA := DefaultOptions()
 	optsA.Cluster.Name = "TEST CLUSTER 22"
 	optsA.Cluster.Host = "127.0.0.1"
 	optsA.TrustedKeys = []string{pub}
@@ -127,6 +126,11 @@ func runTrustedCluster(t *testing.T) (*Server, *Options, *Server, *Options, nkey
 	return sa, optsA, sb, optsB, akp
 }
 
+func runTrustedCluster(t *testing.T) (*Server, *Options, *Server, *Options, nkeys.KeyPair) {
+	opts := DefaultOptions()
+	return startTrustedCluster(t, opts)
+}
+
 func runTrustedGateways(t *testing.T) (*Server, *Options, *Server, *Options, nkeys.KeyPair) {
 	t.Helper()
 
@@ -1776,13 +1780,10 @@ func TestSystemAccountNoAuthUser(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestServerAccountConns(t *testing.T) {
-	// speed up hb
-	orgHBInterval := eventsHBInterval
-	eventsHBInterval = time.Millisecond * 100
-	defer func() { eventsHBInterval = orgHBInterval }()
 	conf := createConfFile(t, []byte(`
 	   host: 127.0.0.1
 	   port: -1
+	   hb_interval: 100ms # speed up hb
 	   system_account: SYS
 	   accounts: {
 			   SYS: {users: [{user: s, password: s}]}
@@ -3095,11 +3096,10 @@ func (sr *slowAccResolver) Fetch(name string) (string, error) {
 }
 
 func TestConnectionUpdatesTimerProperlySet(t *testing.T) {
-	origEventsHBInterval := eventsHBInterval
-	eventsHBInterval = 50 * time.Millisecond
-	defer func() { eventsHBInterval = origEventsHBInterval }()
+	opts := DefaultOptions()
+	opts.HBInterval = 50 * time.Millisecond
+	sa, _, sb, optsB, _ := startTrustedCluster(t, opts)
 
-	sa, _, sb, optsB, _ := runTrustedCluster(t)
 	defer sa.Shutdown()
 	defer sb.Shutdown()
 
diff --git a/server/jetstream_cluster_2_test.go b/server/jetstream_cluster_2_test.go
index 31ac47c5fdc..0172cce7d43 100644
--- a/server/jetstream_cluster_2_test.go
+++ b/server/jetstream_cluster_2_test.go
@@ -6154,11 +6154,8 @@ func TestJetStreamClusterStreamCatchupWithTruncateAndPriorSnapshot(t *testing.T)
 }
 
 func TestJetStreamClusterNoOrphanedDueToNoConnection(t *testing.T) {
-	orgEventsHBInterval := eventsHBInterval
-	eventsHBInterval = 500 * time.Millisecond
-	defer func() { eventsHBInterval = orgEventsHBInterval }()
-
-	c := createJetStreamClusterExplicit(t, "R3F", 3)
+	tmpl := jsClusterTempl + "\n\thb_interval: 500ms" // speed up hb
+	c := createJetStreamClusterWithTemplate(t, tmpl, "R3F", 3)
 	defer c.shutdown()
 
 	s := c.randomServer()
@@ -6191,9 +6188,9 @@ func TestJetStreamClusterNoOrphanedDueToNoConnection(t *testing.T) {
 	nc.Close()
 
 	s.mu.RLock()
-	val := (s.sys.orphMax / eventsHBInterval) + 2
+	val := (s.sys.orphMax / s.opts.HBInterval) + 2
 	s.mu.RUnlock()
-	time.Sleep(val * eventsHBInterval)
+	time.Sleep(val * s.opts.HBInterval)
 	checkSysServers()
 }
 
diff --git a/server/jetstream_super_cluster_test.go b/server/jetstream_super_cluster_test.go
index 779de18b88e..f19c60daf2a 100644
--- a/server/jetstream_super_cluster_test.go
+++ b/server/jetstream_super_cluster_test.go
@@ -3837,14 +3837,11 @@ func TestJetStreamSuperClusterGWReplyRewrite(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestJetStreamSuperClusterGWOfflineSatus(t *testing.T) {
-	orgEventsHBInterval := eventsHBInterval
-	eventsHBInterval = 500 * time.Millisecond //time.Second
-	defer func() { eventsHBInterval = orgEventsHBInterval }()
-
 	tmpl := `
 		listen: 127.0.0.1:-1
 		server_name: %s
 		jetstream: {max_mem_store: 256MB, max_file_store: 2GB, store_dir: '%s'}
+		hb_interval: 500ms
 
 		gateway {
 			name: "local"
@@ -3883,6 +3880,7 @@ func TestJetStreamSuperClusterGWOfflineSatus(t *testing.T) {
 		listen: 127.0.0.1:-1
 		server_name: %s
 		jetstream: {max_mem_store: 256MB, max_file_store: 2GB, store_dir: '%s'}
+		hb_interval: 500ms
 
 		gateway {
 			name: "remote"
diff --git a/server/jwt_test.go b/server/jwt_test.go
index 2a41b6edd16..65e5181a890 100644
--- a/server/jwt_test.go
+++ b/server/jwt_test.go
@@ -3335,9 +3335,6 @@ func writeJWT(t *testing.T, dir string, pub string, jwt string) {
 }
 
 func TestJWTAccountNATSResolverFetch(t *testing.T) {
-	origEventsHBInterval := eventsHBInterval
-	eventsHBInterval = 50 * time.Millisecond // speed up eventing
-	defer func() { eventsHBInterval = origEventsHBInterval }()
 	require_NoLocalOrRemoteConnections := func(account string, srvs ...*Server) {
 		t.Helper()
 		for _, srv := range srvs {
@@ -3446,6 +3443,7 @@ func TestJWTAccountNATSResolverFetch(t *testing.T) {
 		server_name: srv-A
 		operator: %s
 		system_account: %s
+		hb_interval: 50ms
 		resolver: {
 			type: full
 			dir: '%s'
@@ -3471,6 +3469,7 @@ func TestJWTAccountNATSResolverFetch(t *testing.T) {
 		server_name: srv-B
 		operator: %s
 		system_account: %s
+		hb_interval: 50ms
 		resolver: {
 			type: full
 
@@ -3495,6 +3494,7 @@ func TestJWTAccountNATSResolverFetch(t *testing.T) {
 		server_name: srv-C
 		operator: %s
 		system_account: %s
+		hb_interval: 50ms
 		resolver: {
 			type: cache
 			dir: '%s'
diff --git a/server/monitor.go b/server/monitor.go
index 64a8259d928..af63b7cea3d 100644
--- a/server/monitor.go
+++ b/server/monitor.go
@@ -1170,6 +1170,7 @@ type Varz struct {
 	WSConnectURLs         []string              `json:"ws_connect_urls,omitempty"`
 	MaxConn               int                   `json:"max_connections"`
 	MaxSubs               int                   `json:"max_subscriptions,omitempty"`
+	HBInterval            time.Duration         `json:"hb_interval"`
 	PingInterval          time.Duration         `json:"ping_interval"`
 	MaxPingsOut           int                   `json:"ping_max"`
 	HTTPHost              string                `json:"http_host"`
@@ -1639,6 +1640,7 @@ func (s *Server) updateVarzConfigReloadableFields(v *Varz) {
 	v.TLSRequired = info.TLSRequired
 	v.TLSVerify = info.TLSVerify
 	v.MaxConn = opts.MaxConn
+	v.HBInterval = opts.HBInterval
 	v.PingInterval = opts.PingInterval
 	v.MaxPingsOut = opts.MaxPingsOut
 	v.AuthTimeout = opts.AuthTimeout
diff --git a/server/opts.go b/server/opts.go
index 02c3489b4ec..ddd0d40b73c 100644
--- a/server/opts.go
+++ b/server/opts.go
@@ -278,6 +278,7 @@ type Options struct {
 	AuthCallout           *AuthCallout  `json:"-"`
 	PingInterval          time.Duration `json:"ping_interval"`
 	MaxPingsOut           int           `json:"ping_max"`
+	HBInterval            time.Duration `json:"hb_interval"`
 	HTTPHost              string        `json:"http_host"`
 	HTTPPort              int           `json:"http_port"`
 	HTTPBasePath          string        `json:"http_base_path"`
@@ -1035,6 +1036,8 @@ func (o *Options) processConfigFileLine(k string, v interface{}, errors *[]error
 		} else {
 			o.MaxSubTokens = uint8(n)
 		}
+	case "hb_interval":
+		o.HBInterval = parseDuration("hb_interval", tk, v, errors, warnings)
 	case "ping_interval":
 		o.PingInterval = parseDuration("ping_interval", tk, v, errors, warnings)
 	case "ping_max":
@@ -4846,6 +4849,9 @@ func setBaselineOptions(opts *Options) {
 	if opts.MaxConn == 0 {
 		opts.MaxConn = DEFAULT_MAX_CONNECTIONS
 	}
+	if opts.HBInterval == 0 {
+		opts.HBInterval = DEFAULT_HB_INTERVAL
+	}
 	if opts.PingInterval == 0 {
 		opts.PingInterval = DEFAULT_PING_INTERVAL
 	}
diff --git a/server/opts_test.go b/server/opts_test.go
index c618b260fba..cd768b9ef96 100644
--- a/server/opts_test.go
+++ b/server/opts_test.go
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ func TestDefaultOptions(t *testing.T) {
 		Port:                DEFAULT_PORT,
 		MaxConn:             DEFAULT_MAX_CONNECTIONS,
 		HTTPHost:            DEFAULT_HOST,
+		HBInterval:          DEFAULT_HB_INTERVAL,
 		PingInterval:        DEFAULT_PING_INTERVAL,
 		MaxPingsOut:         DEFAULT_PING_MAX_OUT,
 		TLSTimeout:          float64(TLS_TIMEOUT) / float64(time.Second),
@@ -113,6 +114,7 @@ func TestConfigFile(t *testing.T) {
 		MaxConn:               100,
 		MaxSubs:               1000,
 		MaxPending:            10000000,
+		HBInterval:            30 * time.Second,
 		PingInterval:          60 * time.Second,
 		MaxPingsOut:           3,
 		WriteDeadline:         3 * time.Second,
@@ -272,6 +274,7 @@ func TestMergeOverrides(t *testing.T) {
 		MaxConn:        100,
 		MaxSubs:        1000,
 		MaxPending:     10000000,
+		HBInterval:     30 * time.Second,
 		PingInterval:   60 * time.Second,
 		MaxPingsOut:    3,
 		Cluster: ClusterOpts{
@@ -1251,6 +1254,7 @@ func TestOptionsClone(t *testing.T) {
 		MaxControlLine: 2048,
 		MaxPayload:     65536,
 		MaxConn:        100,
+		HBInterval:     30 * time.Second,
 		PingInterval:   60 * time.Second,
 		MaxPingsOut:    3,
 		Cluster: ClusterOpts{
diff --git a/server/reload.go b/server/reload.go
index a098da7ad8f..58987fb2759 100644
--- a/server/reload.go
+++ b/server/reload.go
@@ -612,6 +612,19 @@ func (m *maxPayloadOption) Apply(server *Server) {
 	server.Noticef("Reloaded: max_payload = %d", m.newValue)
 }
 
+// hbIntervalOption implements the option interface for the `hb_interval`
+// setting.
+type hbIntervalOption struct {
+	noopOption
+	newValue time.Duration
+}
+
+// Apply is a no-op because the heartbeat interval will be reloaded after
+// options are applied.
+func (p *hbIntervalOption) Apply(server *Server) {
+	server.Noticef("Reloaded: hb_interval = %s", p.newValue)
+}
+
 // pingIntervalOption implements the option interface for the `ping_interval`
 // setting.
 type pingIntervalOption struct {
@@ -1267,6 +1280,8 @@ func (s *Server) diffOptions(newOpts *Options) ([]option, error) {
 			diffOpts = append(diffOpts, &maxControlLineOption{newValue: newValue.(int32)})
 		case "maxpayload":
 			diffOpts = append(diffOpts, &maxPayloadOption{newValue: newValue.(int32)})
+		case "hbinterval":
+			diffOpts = append(diffOpts, &hbIntervalOption{newValue: newValue.(time.Duration)})
 		case "pinginterval":
 			diffOpts = append(diffOpts, &pingIntervalOption{newValue: newValue.(time.Duration)})
 		case "maxpingsout":
diff --git a/server/reload_test.go b/server/reload_test.go
index 9f0410c71b5..cb5b4d3924a 100644
--- a/server/reload_test.go
+++ b/server/reload_test.go
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ func TestConfigReloadUnsupported(t *testing.T) {
 		MaxControlLine: 4096,
 		MaxPayload:     1048576,
 		MaxConn:        65536,
+		HBInterval:     30 * time.Second,
 		PingInterval:   2 * time.Minute,
 		MaxPingsOut:    2,
 		WriteDeadline:  10 * time.Second,
@@ -215,6 +216,7 @@ func TestConfigReloadInvalidConfig(t *testing.T) {
 		MaxControlLine: 4096,
 		MaxPayload:     1048576,
 		MaxConn:        65536,
+		HBInterval:     30 * time.Second,
 		PingInterval:   2 * time.Minute,
 		MaxPingsOut:    2,
 		WriteDeadline:  10 * time.Second,
@@ -278,6 +280,7 @@ func TestConfigReload(t *testing.T) {
 		MaxControlLine: 4096,
 		MaxPayload:     1048576,
 		MaxConn:        65536,
+		HBInterval:     30 * time.Second,
 		PingInterval:   2 * time.Minute,
 		MaxPingsOut:    2,
 		WriteDeadline:  10 * time.Second,
@@ -354,6 +357,9 @@ func TestConfigReload(t *testing.T) {
 	if updated.MaxControlLine != 512 {
 		t.Fatalf("MaxControlLine is incorrect.\nexpected: 512\ngot: %d", updated.MaxControlLine)
 	}
+	if updated.HBInterval != 5*time.Second {
+		t.Fatalf("HBInterval is incorrect.\nexpected 5s\ngot: %s", updated.HBInterval)
+	}
 	if updated.PingInterval != 5*time.Second {
 		t.Fatalf("PingInterval is incorrect.\nexpected 5s\ngot: %s", updated.PingInterval)
 	}
diff --git a/server/server.go b/server/server.go
index 8ca5a3c3c4a..3f4fe43f9cf 100644
--- a/server/server.go
+++ b/server/server.go
@@ -1647,9 +1647,9 @@ func (s *Server) setSystemAccount(acc *Account) error {
 		recvq:   newIPQueue[*inSysMsg](s, "System recvQ"),
 		resetCh: make(chan struct{}),
 		sq:      s.newSendQ(),
-		statsz:  eventsHBInterval,
-		orphMax: 5 * eventsHBInterval,
-		chkOrph: 3 * eventsHBInterval,
+		statsz:  s.opts.HBInterval,
+		orphMax: 5 * s.opts.HBInterval,
+		chkOrph: 3 * s.opts.HBInterval,
 	}
 	s.sys.wg.Add(1)
 	s.mu.Unlock()