diff --git a/config/config.example.yml b/config/config.example.yml
index 2760793c1..07bcdc24a 100644
--- a/config/config.example.yml
+++ b/config/config.example.yml
@@ -99,6 +99,12 @@ cameras:
     ################
     take_frame: 1
 
+    ################
+    # The number of seconds frigate will allow a camera to go without sending a frame before
+    # assuming the ffmpeg process has a problem and restarting.
+    ################
+    # watchdog_timeout: 300
+
     ################
     # Camera level object config. This config is merged with the global config above.
     ################
diff --git a/frigate/video.py b/frigate/video.py
index f6b2c4703..25ec223e5 100644
--- a/frigate/video.py
+++ b/frigate/video.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class CameraWatchdog(threading.Thread):
             # wait a bit before checking
             time.sleep(10)
 
-            if self.camera.frame_time.value != 0.0 and (datetime.datetime.now().timestamp() - self.camera.frame_time.value) > 300:
+            if self.camera.frame_time.value != 0.0 and (datetime.datetime.now().timestamp() - self.camera.frame_time.value) > self.camera.watchdog_timeout:
                 print(self.camera.name + ": last frame is more than 5 minutes old, restarting camera capture...")
                 self.camera.start_or_restart_capture()
                 time.sleep(5)
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ class Camera:
         camera_objects_config = config.get('objects', {})
 
         self.take_frame = self.config.get('take_frame', 1)
+        self.watchdog_timeout = self.config.get('watchdog_timeout', 300)
         self.regions = self.config['regions']
         self.frame_shape = get_frame_shape(self.ffmpeg_input)
         self.frame_size = self.frame_shape[0] * self.frame_shape[1] * self.frame_shape[2]