diff --git a/examples/config.yml b/examples/config.yml
index f7bb95d..444592f 100644
--- a/examples/config.yml
+++ b/examples/config.yml
@@ -142,9 +142,12 @@ punchy:
   # Default is false
   #respond: true
 
-  # delays a punch response for misbehaving NATs, default is 1 second, respond must be true to take effect
+  # delays a punch response for misbehaving NATs, default is 1 second.
   #delay: 1s
 
+  # set the delay before attempting punchy.respond. Default is 5 seconds. respond must be true to take effect.
+  #respond_delay: 5s
+
 # Cipher allows you to choose between the available ciphers for your network. Options are chachapoly or aes
 # IMPORTANT: this value must be identical on ALL NODES/LIGHTHOUSES. We do not/will not support use of different ciphers simultaneously!
 #cipher: aes
diff --git a/lighthouse.go b/lighthouse.go
index a3341b4..402caff 100644
--- a/lighthouse.go
+++ b/lighthouse.go
@@ -965,7 +965,7 @@ func (lhh *LightHouseHandler) handleHostPunchNotification(n *NebulaMeta, vpnIp i
 	if lhh.lh.punchy.GetRespond() {
 		queryVpnIp := iputil.VpnIp(n.Details.VpnIp)
 		go func() {
-			time.Sleep(time.Second * 5)
+			time.Sleep(lhh.lh.punchy.GetRespondDelay())
 			if lhh.l.Level >= logrus.DebugLevel {
 				lhh.l.Debugf("Sending a nebula test packet to vpn ip %s", queryVpnIp)
 			}
diff --git a/punchy.go b/punchy.go
index 1ecf7c5..a930ac5 100644
--- a/punchy.go
+++ b/punchy.go
@@ -9,10 +9,11 @@ import (
 )
 
 type Punchy struct {
-	punch   atomic.Bool
-	respond atomic.Bool
-	delay   atomic.Int64
-	l       *logrus.Logger
+	punch        atomic.Bool
+	respond      atomic.Bool
+	delay        atomic.Int64
+	respondDelay atomic.Int64
+	l            *logrus.Logger
 }
 
 func NewPunchyFromConfig(l *logrus.Logger, c *config.C) *Punchy {
@@ -65,6 +66,12 @@ func (p *Punchy) reload(c *config.C, initial bool) {
 			p.l.Infof("punchy.delay changed to %s", p.GetDelay())
 		}
 	}
+	if initial || c.HasChanged("punchy.respond_delay") {
+		p.respondDelay.Store((int64)(c.GetDuration("punchy.respond_delay", 5*time.Second)))
+		if !initial {
+			p.l.Infof("punchy.respond_delay changed to %s", p.GetRespondDelay())
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 func (p *Punchy) GetPunch() bool {
@@ -78,3 +85,7 @@ func (p *Punchy) GetRespond() bool {
 func (p *Punchy) GetDelay() time.Duration {
 	return (time.Duration)(p.delay.Load())
 }
+
+func (p *Punchy) GetRespondDelay() time.Duration {
+	return (time.Duration)(p.respondDelay.Load())
+}
diff --git a/punchy_test.go b/punchy_test.go
index 0aa9b62..bedd2b2 100644
--- a/punchy_test.go
+++ b/punchy_test.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ func TestNewPunchyFromConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, false, p.GetPunch())
 	assert.Equal(t, false, p.GetRespond())
 	assert.Equal(t, time.Second, p.GetDelay())
+	assert.Equal(t, 5*time.Second, p.GetRespondDelay())
 
 	// punchy deprecation
 	c.Settings["punchy"] = true
@@ -44,6 +45,11 @@ func TestNewPunchyFromConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	c.Settings["punchy"] = map[interface{}]interface{}{"delay": "1m"}
 	p = NewPunchyFromConfig(l, c)
 	assert.Equal(t, time.Minute, p.GetDelay())
+
+	// punchy.respond_delay
+	c.Settings["punchy"] = map[interface{}]interface{}{"respond_delay": "1m"}
+	p = NewPunchyFromConfig(l, c)
+	assert.Equal(t, time.Minute, p.GetRespondDelay())
 }
 
 func TestPunchy_reload(t *testing.T) {