diff --git a/src/modules/keepalive/keepalive.h b/src/modules/keepalive/keepalive.h
index a8da607db80..41e8eab00aa 100644
--- a/src/modules/keepalive/keepalive.h
+++ b/src/modules/keepalive/keepalive.h
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ extern int ka_ping_interval;
 #define KA_PROBE_INACTIVE 2
 #define KA_PROBE_ONLYFLAGGED 3
 
+#define KA_FIRST_TRY_DELAY 500 /* First OPTIONS send is done 500 millis after adding the destination */
+
 typedef void (*ka_statechanged_f)(str *uri, int state, void *user_attr);
 typedef void (*ka_response_f)(
 		str *uri, struct tmcb_params *ps, void *user_attr);
@@ -62,6 +64,7 @@ typedef struct _ka_dest
 	int state;
 	time_t last_checked, last_up, last_down;
 	int counter;	// counts unreachable attemps
+	ticks_t ping_interval;  /*!< Actual interval between OPTIONS  */
 
 	void *user_attr;
 	ka_statechanged_f statechanged_clb;
@@ -70,7 +73,7 @@ typedef struct _ka_dest
 	struct ip_addr ip_address; /*!< IP-Address of the entry */
 	unsigned short int port;   /*!< Port of the URI */
 	unsigned short int proto;  /*!< Protocol of the URI */
-	struct timer_ln *timer;
+	struct timer_ln *timer;    /*!< Timer firing the OPTIONS test */
 	struct _ka_dest *next;
 } ka_dest_t;
 
diff --git a/src/modules/keepalive/keepalive_api.c b/src/modules/keepalive/keepalive_api.c
index 18336084af9..19339c4ba69 100644
--- a/src/modules/keepalive/keepalive_api.c
+++ b/src/modules/keepalive/keepalive_api.c
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ int ka_add_dest(str *uri, str *owner, int flags, int ping_interval,
 	dest->statechanged_clb = statechanged_clb;
 	dest->response_clb = response_clb;
 	dest->user_attr = user_attr;
+	dest->ping_interval = MS_TO_TICKS((ping_interval == 0 ? ka_ping_interval : ping_interval) * 1000) ;
 
     dest->timer = timer_alloc();
 	if (dest->timer == NULL) {
@@ -116,8 +117,7 @@ int ka_add_dest(str *uri, str *owner, int flags, int ping_interval,
 
 	timer_init(dest->timer, ka_check_timer, dest, 0);
 
-    int actual_ping_interval =  ping_interval == 0 ? ka_ping_interval : ping_interval;
-	if(timer_add(dest->timer, MS_TO_TICKS(actual_ping_interval * 1000)) < 0){
+	if(timer_add(dest->timer, MS_TO_TICKS(KA_FIRST_TRY_DELAY)) < 0){
 		LM_ERR("failed to start timer\n");
 		goto err;
 	}
diff --git a/src/modules/keepalive/keepalive_core.c b/src/modules/keepalive/keepalive_core.c
index 04b520a62ba..4daa57908d3 100644
--- a/src/modules/keepalive/keepalive_core.c
+++ b/src/modules/keepalive/keepalive_core.c
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ ticks_t ka_check_timer(ticks_t ticks, struct timer_ln* tl, void* param)
 
     ka_dest->last_checked = time(NULL);
 
-	return (ticks_t)(-1); /* periodical */
+	return ka_dest->ping_interval; /* periodical, but based on dest->ping_interval, not on initial_timeout */
 }
 
 /*! \brief