diff --git a/relayer/src/relayer.rs b/relayer/src/relayer.rs
index bd7ce5d..a5f7b9d 100644
--- a/relayer/src/relayer.rs
+++ b/relayer/src/relayer.rs
@@ -425,6 +425,7 @@ impl RelayerImpl {
         validator_packet_batch_size: usize,
         forward_all: bool,
         slot_lookahead: u64,
+        heartbeat_tick_time: u64,
     ) -> Self {
         // receiver tracked as relayer_metrics.subscription_receiver_len
         let (subscription_sender, subscription_receiver) =
@@ -451,6 +452,7 @@ impl RelayerImpl {
                         address_lookup_table_cache,
                         validator_packet_batch_size,
                         forward_all,
+                        heartbeat_tick_time,
                     );
                     warn!("RelayerImpl thread exited with result {res:?}")
                 })
@@ -487,10 +489,11 @@ impl RelayerImpl {
         address_lookup_table_cache: Arc<DashMap<Pubkey, AddressLookupTableAccount>>,
         validator_packet_batch_size: usize,
         forward_all: bool,
+        heartbeat_tick_time: u64,
     ) -> RelayerResult<()> {
         let mut highest_slot = Slot::default();
 
-        let heartbeat_tick = crossbeam_channel::tick(Duration::from_millis(500));
+        let heartbeat_tick = crossbeam_channel::tick(Duration::from_millis(heartbeat_tick_time));
         let metrics_tick = crossbeam_channel::tick(Duration::from_millis(1000));
 
         let mut relayer_metrics = RelayerMetrics::new(
diff --git a/transaction-relayer/src/main.rs b/transaction-relayer/src/main.rs
index 33412e5..21b2377 100644
--- a/transaction-relayer/src/main.rs
+++ b/transaction-relayer/src/main.rs
@@ -240,6 +240,10 @@ struct Args {
     /// The slot lookahead to use when forwarding transactions
     #[arg(long, env, default_value_t = 5)]
     slot_lookahead: u64,
+
+    /// Time in milliseconds between heartbeat ticks
+    #[arg(long, env, default_value_t = 100)]
+    heartbeat_tick_time: u64,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -536,6 +540,7 @@ fn main() {
         args.validator_packet_batch_size,
         args.forward_all,
         args.slot_lookahead,
+        args.heartbeat_tick_time,
     );
 
     let priv_key = fs::read(&args.signing_key_pem_path).unwrap_or_else(|_| {