diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8f68afe6a..3a24e6e0b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ to a single process.
       - `Object`: optional, options object
     - **Options**
       - `pingTimeout` (`Number`): how many ms without a pong packet to
-        consider the connection closed (`5000`)
+        consider the connection closed (`20000`)
       - `pingInterval` (`Number`): how many ms before sending a new ping
         packet (`25000`)
       - `upgradeTimeout` (`Number`): how many ms before an uncompleted transport upgrade is cancelled (`10000`)
diff --git a/lib/server.js b/lib/server.js
index a7007357c..644d6b9ef 100644
--- a/lib/server.js
+++ b/lib/server.js
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ class Server extends EventEmitter {
     this.opts = Object.assign(
       {
         wsEngine: process.env.EIO_WS_ENGINE || "ws",
-        pingTimeout: 5000,
+        pingTimeout: 20000,
         pingInterval: 25000,
         upgradeTimeout: 10000,
         maxHttpBufferSize: 1e6,