diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e944e5f..697a384 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -172,16 +172,17 @@ server:
 
 ```yaml
 instances:
-  port_range: [8000, 9000]           # Port range for instances (default: [8000, 9000])
-  data_dir: "~/.local/share/llamactl" # Directory for all llamactl data (default varies by OS)
-  configs_dir: "~/.local/share/llamactl/instances" # Directory for instance configs (default: data_dir/instances)
-  logs_dir: "~/.local/share/llamactl/logs" # Directory for instance logs (default: data_dir/logs)
-  auto_create_dirs: true             # Automatically create data/config/logs directories (default: true)
-  max_instances: -1                  # Maximum instances (-1 = unlimited)
-  llama_executable: "llama-server"   # Path to llama-server executable
-  default_auto_restart: true         # Default auto-restart setting
-  default_max_restarts: 3            # Default maximum restart attempts
-  default_restart_delay: 5           # Default restart delay in seconds
+  port_range: [8000, 9000]                          # Port range for instances (default: [8000, 9000])
+  data_dir: "~/.local/share/llamactl"               # Directory for all llamactl data (default varies by OS)
+  configs_dir: "~/.local/share/llamactl/instances"  # Directory for instance configs (default: data_dir/instances)
+  logs_dir: "~/.local/share/llamactl/logs"          # Directory for instance logs (default: data_dir/logs)
+  auto_create_dirs: true                            # Automatically create data/config/logs directories (default: true)
+  max_instances: -1                                 # Maximum instances (-1 = unlimited)
+  llama_executable: "llama-server"                  # Path to llama-server executable
+  default_auto_restart: true                        # Default auto-restart setting
+  default_max_restarts: 3                           # Default maximum restart attempts
+  default_restart_delay: 5                          # Default restart delay in seconds
+  timeout_check_interval: 5                         # Default instance timeout check interval in minutes
 ```
 
 **Environment Variables:**
@@ -195,6 +196,7 @@ instances:
 - `LLAMACTL_DEFAULT_AUTO_RESTART` - Default auto-restart setting (true/false)
 - `LLAMACTL_DEFAULT_MAX_RESTARTS` - Default maximum restarts
 - `LLAMACTL_DEFAULT_RESTART_DELAY` - Default restart delay in seconds
+- `LLAMACTL_TIMEOUT_CHECK_INTERVAL` - Default instance timeout check interval in minutes
 
 #### Authentication Configuration
 
diff --git a/pkg/config/config.go b/pkg/config/config.go
index fd33715..386a708 100644
--- a/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@ type InstancesConfig struct {
 
 	// Default restart delay for new instances (in seconds)
 	DefaultRestartDelay int `yaml:"default_restart_delay"`
+
+	// Interval for checking instance timeouts (in minutes)
+	TimeoutCheckInterval int `yaml:"timeout_check_interval"`
 }
 
 // AuthConfig contains authentication settings
@@ -98,16 +101,17 @@ func LoadConfig(configPath string) (AppConfig, error) {
 			EnableSwagger:  false,
 		},
 		Instances: InstancesConfig{
-			PortRange:           [2]int{8000, 9000},
-			DataDir:             getDefaultDataDirectory(),
-			InstancesDir:        filepath.Join(getDefaultDataDirectory(), "instances"),
-			LogsDir:             filepath.Join(getDefaultDataDirectory(), "logs"),
-			AutoCreateDirs:      true,
-			MaxInstances:        -1, // -1 means unlimited
-			LlamaExecutable:     "llama-server",
-			DefaultAutoRestart:  true,
-			DefaultMaxRestarts:  3,
-			DefaultRestartDelay: 5,
+			PortRange:            [2]int{8000, 9000},
+			DataDir:              getDefaultDataDirectory(),
+			InstancesDir:         filepath.Join(getDefaultDataDirectory(), "instances"),
+			LogsDir:              filepath.Join(getDefaultDataDirectory(), "logs"),
+			AutoCreateDirs:       true,
+			MaxInstances:         -1, // -1 means unlimited
+			LlamaExecutable:      "llama-server",
+			DefaultAutoRestart:   true,
+			DefaultMaxRestarts:   3,
+			DefaultRestartDelay:  5,
+			TimeoutCheckInterval: 5, // Check timeouts every 5 minutes
 		},
 		Auth: AuthConfig{
 			RequireInferenceAuth:  true,
@@ -217,6 +221,11 @@ func loadEnvVars(cfg *AppConfig) {
 			cfg.Instances.DefaultRestartDelay = seconds
 		}
 	}
+	if timeoutCheckInterval := os.Getenv("LLAMACTL_TIMEOUT_CHECK_INTERVAL"); timeoutCheckInterval != "" {
+		if minutes, err := strconv.Atoi(timeoutCheckInterval); err == nil {
+			cfg.Instances.TimeoutCheckInterval = minutes
+		}
+	}
 	// Auth config
 	if requireInferenceAuth := os.Getenv("LLAMACTL_REQUIRE_INFERENCE_AUTH"); requireInferenceAuth != "" {
 		if b, err := strconv.ParseBool(requireInferenceAuth); err == nil {
diff --git a/pkg/instance/instance.go b/pkg/instance/instance.go
index 2f795a1..7d5d7c5 100644
--- a/pkg/instance/instance.go
+++ b/pkg/instance/instance.go
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ func validateAndCopyOptions(name string, options *CreateInstanceOptions) *Create
 		if options.IdleTimeout != nil {
 			idleTimeout := *options.IdleTimeout
 			if idleTimeout < 0 {
-				log.Printf("Instance %s IdleTimeout value (%d) cannot be negative, setting to 0 seconds", name, idleTimeout)
+				log.Printf("Instance %s IdleTimeout value (%d) cannot be negative, setting to 0 minutes", name, idleTimeout)
 				idleTimeout = 0
 			}
 			optionsCopy.IdleTimeout = &idleTimeout
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ func applyDefaultOptions(options *CreateInstanceOptions, globalSettings *config.
 	}
 
 	if options.IdleTimeout == nil {
-		defaultIdleTimeout := 0 // Default to 0 seconds if not set
+		defaultIdleTimeout := 0
 		options.IdleTimeout = &defaultIdleTimeout
 	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/instance/timeout.go b/pkg/instance/timeout.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1807170
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/instance/timeout.go
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+package instance