diff --git a/etc/neutron.conf b/etc/neutron.conf
index c68af4e66d9..e25d8e25375 100644
--- a/etc/neutron.conf
+++ b/etc/neutron.conf
@@ -652,7 +652,7 @@ lock_path = $state_path/lock
 # use_helper_for_ns_read = True
 
 # The interval to check external processes for failure in seconds (0=disabled)
-# check_child_processes_interval = 0
+# check_child_processes_interval = 60
 
 # Action to take when an external process spawned by an agent dies
 # Values:
diff --git a/neutron/agent/common/config.py b/neutron/agent/common/config.py
index 3f533fa3a34..429f2c47904 100644
--- a/neutron/agent/common/config.py
+++ b/neutron/agent/common/config.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ PROCESS_MONITOR_OPTS = [
     cfg.StrOpt('check_child_processes_action', default='respawn',
                choices=['respawn', 'exit'],
                help=_('Action to be executed when a child process dies')),
-    cfg.IntOpt('check_child_processes_interval', default=0,
+    cfg.IntOpt('check_child_processes_interval', default=60,
                help=_('Interval between checks of child process liveness '
                       '(seconds), use 0 to disable')),
 ]