diff --git a/lib/winston-logstash.js b/lib/winston-logstash.js
index 8d02603..9f88f16 100644
--- a/lib/winston-logstash.js
+++ b/lib/winston-logstash.js
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ Logstash.prototype.connect = function () {
     this.socket.connect(self.port, self.host, function () {
       self.announce();
       self.connecting = false;
+      self.socket.setKeepAlive(true, 60 * 1000);
     });
   }
 
@@ -243,4 +244,4 @@ Logstash.prototype.sendLog = function (message, callback) {
 
 Logstash.prototype.getQueueLength = function () {
   return this.log_queue.length;
-};
\ No newline at end of file
+};