diff --git a/conventional.yaml b/conventional.yaml
index 87215dd6..d27ac698 100644
--- a/conventional.yaml
+++ b/conventional.yaml
@@ -164,9 +164,13 @@ server:
     # these services can integrate with the ircd using JSON Web Tokens (https://jwt.io)
     # sometimes referred to with 'EXTJWT'
     jwt-services:
-        # # service name -> secret string the service uses to verify our tokens
-        # call-host: call-hosting-secret-token
-        # image-host: image-hosting-secret-token
+        # # service name
+        # call-host:
+        #     # custom expiry length, default is 30s
+        #     expiry-in-seconds: 45
+
+        #     # secret string to verify the generated tokens
+        #     secret: call-hosting-secret-token
 
     # allow use of the RESUME extension over plaintext connections:
     # do not enable this unless the ircd is only accessible over internal networks
diff --git a/default.yaml b/default.yaml
index b8fa06ae..611be84b 100644
--- a/default.yaml
+++ b/default.yaml
@@ -190,9 +190,13 @@ server:
     # these services can integrate with the ircd using JSON Web Tokens (https://jwt.io)
     # sometimes referred to with 'EXTJWT'
     jwt-services:
-        # # service name -> secret string the service uses to verify our tokens
-        # call-host: call-hosting-secret-token
-        # image-host: image-hosting-secret-token
+        # # service name
+        # call-host:
+        #     # custom expiry length, default is 30s
+        #     expiry-in-seconds: 45
+
+        #     # secret string to verify the generated tokens
+        #     secret: call-hosting-secret-token
 
     # allow use of the RESUME extension over plaintext connections:
     # do not enable this unless the ircd is only accessible over internal networks
diff --git a/irc/config.go b/irc/config.go
index 0e4e906e..cc81792f 100644
--- a/irc/config.go
+++ b/irc/config.go
@@ -471,6 +471,11 @@ type TorListenersConfig struct {
 	MaxConnectionsPerDuration int           `yaml:"max-connections-per-duration"`
 }
 
+type JwtServiceConfig struct {
+	ExpiryInSeconds int64 `yaml:"expiry-in-seconds"`
+	Secret          string
+}
+
 // Config defines the overall configuration.
 type Config struct {
 	Network struct {
@@ -502,9 +507,9 @@ type Config struct {
 		MOTDFormatting          bool     `yaml:"motd-formatting"`
 		ProxyAllowedFrom        []string `yaml:"proxy-allowed-from"`
 		proxyAllowedFromNets    []net.IPNet
-		WebIRC                  []webircConfig    `yaml:"webirc"`
-		JwtServices             map[string]string `yaml:"jwt-services"`
-		MaxSendQString          string            `yaml:"max-sendq"`
+		WebIRC                  []webircConfig              `yaml:"webirc"`
+		JwtServices             map[string]JwtServiceConfig `yaml:"jwt-services"`
+		MaxSendQString          string                      `yaml:"max-sendq"`
 		MaxSendQBytes           int
 		AllowPlaintextResume    bool `yaml:"allow-plaintext-resume"`
 		Compatibility           struct {
@@ -922,6 +927,13 @@ func LoadConfig(filename string) (config *Config, err error) {
 		config.Server.capValues[caps.Multiline] = multilineCapValue
 	}
 
+	// confirm jwt config
+	for name, info := range config.Server.JwtServices {
+		if info.Secret == "" {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("Could not parse jwt-services config, %s service has no secret set", name)
+		}
+	}
+
 	// handle legacy name 'bouncer' for 'multiclient' section:
 	if config.Accounts.Bouncer != nil {
 		config.Accounts.Multiclient = *config.Accounts.Bouncer
diff --git a/irc/handlers.go b/irc/handlers.go
index df7b1215..880f6d5f 100644
--- a/irc/handlers.go
+++ b/irc/handlers.go
@@ -922,7 +922,6 @@ func extjwtHandler(server *Server, client *Client, msg ircmsg.IrcMessage, rb *Re
 	}
 
 	claims := jwt.MapClaims{
-		"exp":     time.Now().Unix() + expireInSeconds,
 		"iss":     server.name,
 		"sub":     client.Nick(),
 		"account": accountName,
@@ -945,8 +944,6 @@ func extjwtHandler(server *Server, client *Client, msg ircmsg.IrcMessage, rb *Re
 		}
 	}
 
-	token := jwt.NewWithClaims(jwt.SigningMethodHS256, claims)
-
 	// we default to a secret of `*`. if you want a real secret setup a service in the config~
 	service := "*"
 	secret := "*"
@@ -954,14 +951,19 @@ func extjwtHandler(server *Server, client *Client, msg ircmsg.IrcMessage, rb *Re
 		service = strings.ToLower(msg.Params[1])
 
 		c := server.Config()
-		var exists bool
-		secret, exists = c.Server.JwtServices[service]
+		info, exists := c.Server.JwtServices[service]
 		if !exists {
 			rb.Add(nil, server.name, "FAIL", "EXTJWT", "NO_SUCH_SERVICE", client.t("No such service"))
 			return false
 		}
+		secret = info.Secret
+		if info.ExpiryInSeconds != 0 {
+			expireInSeconds = info.ExpiryInSeconds
+		}
 	}
+	claims["exp"] = time.Now().Unix() + expireInSeconds
 
+	token := jwt.NewWithClaims(jwt.SigningMethodHS256, claims)
 	tokenString, err := token.SignedString([]byte(secret))
 
 	if err == nil {