diff --git a/zuul/executor/server.py b/zuul/executor/server.py
index 8405e94806..dbae175d5a 100644
--- a/zuul/executor/server.py
+++ b/zuul/executor/server.py
@@ -1663,6 +1663,7 @@ class AnsibleJob(object):
             config.write('pipelining = True\n')
             config.write('control_path_dir = %s\n' % self.jobdir.control_path)
             ssh_args = "-o ControlMaster=auto -o ControlPersist=60s " \
+                "-o ServerAliveInterval=60 " \
                 "-o UserKnownHostsFile=%s" % self.jobdir.known_hosts
             config.write('ssh_args = %s\n' % ssh_args)