diff --git a/src/syncterm/conn.c b/src/syncterm/conn.c
index 0d9dd8f013435d220ec954c716eeea889b77c2e9..7d6e1364d2c076e50a388bfd3ba9d8a630814435 100644
--- a/src/syncterm/conn.c
+++ b/src/syncterm/conn.c
@@ -537,6 +537,8 @@ connected:
 		failcode=FAILURE_DISCONNECTED;
 		goto connect_failed;
 	}
+	int keepalives = TRUE;
+	setsockopt(sock, SOL_SOCKET, SO_KEEPALIVE, (void*)&keepalives, sizeof(keepalives));
 
 	uifc.pop(NULL);
 	return(sock);