diff --git a/docker/docker-compose.yml b/docker/docker-compose.yml
index ddf899de..caee3168 100644
--- a/docker/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker/docker-compose.yml
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ services:
       - WEBADMIN_ALLOW_CORS
       - NETWORK
       - LOG_LEVEL
+      - SQUEAKNODE_SYNC_INTERVAL_S
     volumes:
       - shared:/rpc
       - ~/.lnd:/root/.lnd
diff --git a/squeaknode/config/config.py b/squeaknode/config/config.py
index fdfd2460..7cec82f0 100644
--- a/squeaknode/config/config.py
+++ b/squeaknode/config/config.py
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ class Config:
         self._configs['squeaknode_max_squeaks_per_address_per_hour'] = self._get_squeaknode_max_squeaks_per_address_per_hour()
         self._configs['squeaknode_database'] = self._get_squeaknode_database()
         self._configs['squeaknode_sqk_dir'] = self._get_squeaknode_sqk_dir()
-        self._configs['squeaknode_enable_sync'] = self._get_squeaknode_enable_sync()
+        self._configs['squeaknode_sync_interval_s'] = self._get_squeaknode_sync_interval_s()
         self._configs['squeaknode_log_level'] = self._get_squeaknode_log_level()
 
         # db
@@ -191,9 +191,9 @@ class Config:
     def _get_squeaknode_sqk_dir(self):
         return self.parser.get("squeaknode", "sqk_dir", fallback=DEFAULT_SQK_DIR_PATH)
 
-    def _get_squeaknode_enable_sync(self):
-        return environ.get('SQUEAKNODE_ENABLE_SYNC') \
-            or self.parser.getboolean("squeaknode", "enable_sync", fallback=False)
+    def _get_squeaknode_sync_interval_s(self):
+        return int(environ.get('SQUEAKNODE_SYNC_INTERVAL_S')) \
+            or self.parser.getint("squeaknode", "sync_interval_s", fallback=None)
 
     def _get_squeaknode_log_level(self):
         return environ.get('LOG_LEVEL') \
diff --git a/squeaknode/main.py b/squeaknode/main.py
index 3a07cccb..06fe356c 100644
--- a/squeaknode/main.py
+++ b/squeaknode/main.py
@@ -87,8 +87,8 @@ def load_max_squeaks_per_address_per_hour(config):
     return config.squeaknode_max_squeaks_per_address_per_hour
 
 
-def load_enable_sync(config):
-    return config.squeaknode_enable_sync
+def load_sync_interval_s(config):
+    return config.squeaknode_sync_interval_s
 
 
 def load_handler(squeak_node):
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ def run_server(config):
     blockchain_client = load_blockchain_client(config)
 
     # load enable sync config
-    enable_sync = load_enable_sync(config)
+    sync_interval_s = load_sync_interval_s(config)
 
     # Create and start the squeak node
     squeak_node = SqueakNode(
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ def run_server(config):
         lightning_host_port,
         price,
         max_squeaks_per_address_per_hour,
-        enable_sync,
+        sync_interval_s,
     )
     squeak_node.start_running()
 
diff --git a/squeaknode/node/squeak_node.py b/squeaknode/node/squeak_node.py
index 9a2aa4b9..a88ca911 100644
--- a/squeaknode/node/squeak_node.py
+++ b/squeaknode/node/squeak_node.py
@@ -39,14 +39,14 @@ class SqueakNode:
         lightning_host_port,
         price,
         max_squeaks_per_address_per_hour,
-        enable_sync=False,
+        sync_interval_s,
     ):
         self.postgres_db = postgres_db
         self.blockchain_client = blockchain_client
         self.lightning_client = lightning_client
         self.lightning_host_port = lightning_host_port
         self.price = price
-        self.enable_sync = enable_sync
+        self.sync_interval_s = sync_interval_s
         self.squeak_block_verifier = SqueakBlockVerifier(postgres_db, blockchain_client)
         self.squeak_block_periodic_worker = SqueakBlockPeriodicWorker(
             self.squeak_block_verifier
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ class SqueakNode:
         )
         self.squeak_peer_sync_worker = SqueakPeerSyncWorker(
             self.squeak_sync_controller,
+            self.sync_interval_s,
         )
         self.squeak_expired_offer_cleaner = SqueakExpiredOfferCleaner(
             self.postgres_db,
@@ -88,8 +89,7 @@ class SqueakNode:
     def start_running(self):
         self.squeak_block_periodic_worker.start_running()
         self.squeak_block_queue_worker.start_running()
-        if self.enable_sync:
-            self.squeak_peer_sync_worker.start_running()
+        self.squeak_peer_sync_worker.start_running()
         self.squeak_offer_expiry_worker.start_running()
 
     def save_uploaded_squeak(self, squeak):
diff --git a/squeaknode/node/squeak_peer_sync_worker.py b/squeaknode/node/squeak_peer_sync_worker.py
index eda26e4a..ea913fa0 100644
--- a/squeaknode/node/squeak_peer_sync_worker.py
+++ b/squeaknode/node/squeak_peer_sync_worker.py
@@ -4,22 +4,20 @@ import threading
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-SUBSCRIBE_UPDATE_INTERVAL_S = 10.0
-
-
 class SqueakPeerSyncWorker:
     def __init__(
         self,
         squeak_sync_controller,
-        update_interval_s=SUBSCRIBE_UPDATE_INTERVAL_S,
+        sync_interval_s,
     ):
         self.squeak_sync_controller = squeak_sync_controller
-        self.update_interval_s = update_interval_s
+        self.sync_interval_s = sync_interval_s
 
     def sync_timeline(self):
         logger.info("Syncing timeline with peers...")
         self.squeak_sync_controller.sync_timeline()
 
     def start_running(self):
-        threading.Timer(self.update_interval_s, self.start_running).start()
-        self.sync_timeline()
+        if self.sync_interval_s:
+            threading.Timer(self.sync_interval_s, self.start_running).start()
+            self.sync_timeline()