diff --git a/lib/riemann/tools.rb b/lib/riemann/tools.rb
index e0d145e6..cb892223 100644
--- a/lib/riemann/tools.rb
+++ b/lib/riemann/tools.rb
@@ -60,9 +60,7 @@ def report(event)
         event[:tags] = options[:tag].map(&:dup)
       end
 
-      if options[:ttl]
-        event[:ttl] = options[:ttl]
-      end
+      event[:ttl] ||= (options[:ttl] || (options[:interval] * 2))
 
       if options[:event_host]
         event[:host] = options[:event_host].dup