diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index b6e5084c5..4abaee92c 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 2009-03-03  Badlop  <badlop@process-one.net>
 
+	* src/web/ejabberd_http_poll.erl: Allow configuration of session
+        timeout, using new global option http_poll_timeout (EJAB-135)
+        * doc/guide.tex: Document new option
+        * doc/guide.html: Likewise
+
 	* src/ejabberd_system_monitor.erl: Allow parametrizable watchdog
 	threshold: option watchdog_large_heap or chatting with the
 	watchdog bot (EJAB-545)
diff --git a/doc/guide.html b/doc/guide.html
index 55ce1dc69..452131d97 100644
--- a/doc/guide.html
+++ b/doc/guide.html
@@ -712,8 +712,11 @@ do not allow outgoing sockets on port 5222.<P>If HTTP Polling is enabled, it wil
 <CODE>http://server:port/http-poll/</CODE>. Be aware that support for HTTP Polling
 is also needed in the Jabber client. Remark also that HTTP Polling can be
 interesting to host a web-based Jabber client such as
-<A HREF="http://jwchat.sourceforge.net/">JWChat</A>.
-</P></DD><DT CLASS="dt-description"><B><TT>{max_stanza_size, Size}</TT></B></DT><DD CLASS="dd-description">
+<A HREF="http://jwchat.sourceforge.net/">JWChat</A>.</P><P>The maximum period of time to keep a client session active without
+an incoming POST request can be configured with the global option
+<TT>http_poll_timeout</TT>. The default value is five minutes.
+The option can be defined in <TT>ejabberd.cfg</TT>, expressing the time
+in seconds: <CODE>{http_poll_timeout, 300}.</CODE></P></DD><DT CLASS="dt-description"><B><TT>{max_stanza_size, Size}</TT></B></DT><DD CLASS="dd-description">
 This option specifies an
 approximate maximum size in bytes of XML stanzas. Approximate,
 because it is calculated with the precision of one block of readed
@@ -3370,7 +3373,8 @@ If a process in the <TT>ejabberd</TT> server consumes more memory than the confi
 a message is sent to the Jabber accounts defined with the option
 <TT>watchdog_admins</TT>
  in the <TT>ejabberd</TT> configuration file.</P><P>The memory consumed is measured in <TT>words</TT>:
-a word on 32-bit architecture is 4 bytes, and a word on 64-bit architecture 8 bytes.
+a word on 32-bit architecture is 4 bytes,
+and a word on 64-bit architecture is 8 bytes.
 The threshold by default is 1000000 words.
 This value can be configured with the option <TT>watchdog_large_heap</TT>,
 or in a conversation with the watchdog alert bot.</P><P>Example configuration:
diff --git a/doc/guide.tex b/doc/guide.tex
index ac054dab6..983e219b2 100644
--- a/doc/guide.tex
+++ b/doc/guide.tex
@@ -851,6 +851,13 @@ This is a detailed description of each option allowed by the listening modules:
     is also needed in the \Jabber{} client. Remark also that HTTP Polling can be
     interesting to host a web-based \Jabber{} client such as
     \footahref{http://jwchat.sourceforge.net/}{JWChat}.
+
+    The maximum period of time to keep a client session active without
+    an incoming POST request can be configured with the global option
+    \term{http\_poll\_timeout}. The default value is five minutes.
+    The option can be defined in \term{ejabberd.cfg}, expressing the time
+    in seconds: \verb|{http_poll_timeout, 300}.|
+
   \titem{\{max\_stanza\_size, Size\}}
     \ind{options!max\_stanza\_size}This option specifies an
     approximate maximum size in bytes of XML stanzas.  Approximate,
diff --git a/src/web/ejabberd_http_poll.erl b/src/web/ejabberd_http_poll.erl
index 257a6f821..d4ecaf549 100644
--- a/src/web/ejabberd_http_poll.erl
+++ b/src/web/ejabberd_http_poll.erl
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@
 		input = "",
 		waiting_input = false, %% {ReceiverPid, Tag}
 		last_receiver,
+		http_poll_timeout,
 		timer}).
 
 %-define(DBGFSM, true).
@@ -187,12 +188,20 @@ init([ID, Key, IP]) ->
     %% connector.
     Opts = ejabberd_c2s_config:get_c2s_limits(),
 
+    HTTPPollTimeout = case ejabberd_config:get_local_option({http_poll_timeout,
+							     ?MYNAME}) of
+			  %% convert seconds of option into milliseconds
+			  Int when is_integer(Int) -> Int*1000;
+			  undefined -> ?HTTP_POLL_TIMEOUT
+		      end,
+    
     Socket = {http_poll, self(), IP},
     ejabberd_socket:start(ejabberd_c2s, ?MODULE, Socket, Opts),
-    Timer = erlang:start_timer(?HTTP_POLL_TIMEOUT, self(), []),
+    Timer = erlang:start_timer(HTTPPollTimeout, self(), []),
     {ok, loop, #state{id = ID,
 		      key = Key,
 		      socket = Socket,
+		      http_poll_timeout = HTTPPollTimeout,
 		      timer = Timer}}.
 
 %%----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -284,7 +293,7 @@ handle_sync_event({http_put, Key, NewKey, Packet},
 		    Receiver ! {tcp, StateData#state.socket,
 				list_to_binary(Packet)},
 		    cancel_timer(StateData#state.timer),
-		    Timer = erlang:start_timer(?HTTP_POLL_TIMEOUT, self(), []),
+		    Timer = erlang:start_timer(StateData#state.http_poll_timeout, self(), []),
 		    Reply = ok,
 		    {reply, Reply, StateName,
 		     StateData#state{waiting_input = false,