diff --git a/irc/client.go b/irc/client.go
index 240763f7..58ba6777 100644
--- a/irc/client.go
+++ b/irc/client.go
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ func (client *Client) resetFakelag() {
 			return nil
 		}
 
-		return NewFakelag(flc.Window, flc.BurstLimit, flc.MessagesPerWindow)
+		return NewFakelag(flc.Window, flc.BurstLimit, flc.MessagesPerWindow, flc.Cooldown)
 	}()
 
 	client.stateMutex.Lock()
diff --git a/irc/config.go b/irc/config.go
index 84a565b2..09c0bb82 100644
--- a/irc/config.go
+++ b/irc/config.go
@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ type FakelagConfig struct {
 	Window            time.Duration
 	BurstLimit        uint `yaml:"burst-limit"`
 	MessagesPerWindow uint `yaml:"messages-per-window"`
+	Cooldown          time.Duration
 }
 
 // Config defines the overall configuration.
diff --git a/irc/fakelag.go b/irc/fakelag.go
index 2b13b9f5..a3ed64b2 100644
--- a/irc/fakelag.go
+++ b/irc/fakelag.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ type Fakelag struct {
 	window                    time.Duration
 	burstLimit                uint
 	throttleMessagesPerWindow uint
+	cooldown                  time.Duration
 	nowFunc                   func() time.Time
 	sleepFunc                 func(time.Duration)
 
@@ -35,11 +36,12 @@ type Fakelag struct {
 	lastTouch  time.Time
 }
 
-func NewFakelag(window time.Duration, burstLimit uint, throttleMessagesPerWindow uint) *Fakelag {
+func NewFakelag(window time.Duration, burstLimit uint, throttleMessagesPerWindow uint, cooldown time.Duration) *Fakelag {
 	return &Fakelag{
 		window:                    window,
 		burstLimit:                burstLimit,
 		throttleMessagesPerWindow: throttleMessagesPerWindow,
+		cooldown:                  cooldown,
 		nowFunc:                   time.Now,
 		sleepFunc:                 time.Sleep,
 		state:                     FakelagBursting,
@@ -59,8 +61,7 @@ func (fl *Fakelag) Touch() {
 
 	if fl.state == FakelagBursting {
 		// determine if the previous burst is over
-		// (we could use 2*window instead)
-		if elapsed > fl.window {
+		if elapsed > fl.cooldown {
 			fl.burstCount = 0
 		}
 
@@ -77,8 +78,8 @@ func (fl *Fakelag) Touch() {
 	}
 
 	if fl.state == FakelagThrottled {
-		if elapsed > fl.window {
-			// let them burst again (as above, we could use 2*window instead)
+		if elapsed > fl.cooldown {
+			// let them burst again
 			fl.state = FakelagBursting
 			return
 		}
diff --git a/irc/fakelag_test.go b/irc/fakelag_test.go
index 957ee595..b2141039 100644
--- a/irc/fakelag_test.go
+++ b/irc/fakelag_test.go
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ func (mt *mockTime) lastSleep() (slept bool, duration time.Duration) {
 	return
 }
 
-func newFakelagForTesting(window time.Duration, burstLimit uint, throttleMessagesPerWindow uint) (*Fakelag, *mockTime) {
-	fl := NewFakelag(window, burstLimit, throttleMessagesPerWindow)
+func newFakelagForTesting(window time.Duration, burstLimit uint, throttleMessagesPerWindow uint, cooldown time.Duration) (*Fakelag, *mockTime) {
+	fl := NewFakelag(window, burstLimit, throttleMessagesPerWindow, cooldown)
 	mt := new(mockTime)
 	mt.now, _ = time.Parse("Mon Jan 2 15:04:05 -0700 MST 2006", "Mon Jan 2 15:04:05 -0700 MST 2006")
 	mt.lastCheckedSleep = -1
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func newFakelagForTesting(window time.Duration, burstLimit uint, throttleMessage
 
 func TestFakelag(t *testing.T) {
 	window, _ := time.ParseDuration("1s")
-	fl, mt := newFakelagForTesting(window, 3, 2)
+	fl, mt := newFakelagForTesting(window, 3, 2, window)
 
 	fl.Touch()
 	slept, _ := mt.lastSleep()
diff --git a/oragono.yaml b/oragono.yaml
index bf027489..2a438b1e 100644
--- a/oragono.yaml
+++ b/oragono.yaml
@@ -392,15 +392,18 @@ limits:
 # fakelag: prevents clients from spamming commands too rapidly
 fakelag:
     # whether to enforce fakelag
-    enabled: true
+    enabled: false
 
     # time unit for counting command rates
     window: 1s
 
     # clients can send this many commands without fakelag being imposed
-    # (resets after a period of `window` elapses without any commands)
     burst-limit: 5
 
     # once clients have exceeded their burst allowance, they can send only
     # this many commands per `window`:
     messages-per-window: 2
+
+    # client status resets to the default state if they go this long without
+    # sending any commands:
+    cooldown: 1s