diff --git a/src/Core/Worker.php b/src/Core/Worker.php
index 036f065d42..69ca6004ce 100644
--- a/src/Core/Worker.php
+++ b/src/Core/Worker.php
@@ -31,6 +31,13 @@ use Friendica\Util\DateTimeFormat;
  */
 class Worker
 {
+	const PRIORITY_UNDEFINED  = PRIORITY_UNDEFINED;
+	const PRIORITY_CRITICAL   = PRIORITY_CRITICAL;
+	const PRIORITY_HIGH       = PRIORITY_HIGH;
+	const PRIORITY_MEDIUM     = PRIORITY_MEDIUM;
+	const PRIORITY_LOW        = PRIORITY_LOW;
+	const PRIORITY_NEGLIGIBLE = PRIORITY_NEGLIGIBLE;
+
 	const STATE_STARTUP    = 1; // Worker is in startup. This takes most time.
 	const STATE_LONG_LOOP  = 2; // Worker is processing the whole - long - loop.
 	const STATE_REFETCH    = 3; // Worker had refetched jobs in the execution loop.
diff --git a/src/Core/Worker/Cron.php b/src/Core/Worker/Cron.php
index 800f0c8f9a..0f2c4b41e7 100644
--- a/src/Core/Worker/Cron.php
+++ b/src/Core/Worker/Cron.php
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ class Cron
 			['order' => ['priority', 'retrial', 'created']]
 		);
 
+		$max_duration_defaults = DI::config()->get('system', 'worker_max_duration');
+
 		while ($entry = DBA::fetch($entries)) {
 			if (!posix_kill($entry["pid"], 0)) {
 				DBA::update('workerqueue', ['executed' => DBA::NULL_DATETIME, 'pid' => 0], ['id' => $entry["id"]]);
@@ -84,8 +86,10 @@ class Cron
 				// Kill long running processes
 
 				// Define the maximum durations
-				$max_duration_defaults = [PRIORITY_CRITICAL => 720, PRIORITY_HIGH => 10, PRIORITY_MEDIUM => 60, PRIORITY_LOW => 180, PRIORITY_NEGLIGIBLE => 720];
-				$max_duration          = $max_duration_defaults[$entry['priority']];
+				$max_duration = $max_duration_defaults[$entry['priority']] ?? 0;
+				if (empty($max_duration)) {
+					continue;
+				}
 
 				$argv = json_decode($entry['parameter'], true);
 				if (!empty($entry['command'])) {
diff --git a/static/defaults.config.php b/static/defaults.config.php
index b02f537745..f20b333dd8 100644
--- a/static/defaults.config.php
+++ b/static/defaults.config.php
@@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ return [
 		// runtime_loglimit (Integer)
 		// The runtime is logged, When the program execution time is higher than this value.
 		'runtime_loglimit' => 0,
-	
+
 		// sendmail_params (Boolean)
 		// Normal sendmail command parameters will be added when the PHP mail() function is called for sending e-mails.
 		// This ensures the Sender Email address setting is applied to the message envelope rather than the host's default address.
@@ -650,6 +650,16 @@ return [
 		// Setting 0 would allow maximum worker queues at all times, which is not recommended.
 		'worker_load_exponent' => 3,
 
+		// worker_max_duration (Array)
+		// Maximum runtime per priority. Worker processes that exceed this runtime will be terminated.
+		'worker_max_duration' => [
+			Friendica\Core\Worker::PRIORITY_CRITICAL   => 720,
+			Friendica\Core\Worker::PRIORITY_HIGH       => 10,
+			Friendica\Core\Worker::PRIORITY_MEDIUM     => 60,
+			Friendica\Core\Worker::PRIORITY_LOW        => 180,
+			Friendica\Core\Worker::PRIORITY_NEGLIGIBLE => 720
+		],
+
 		// worker_processes_cooldown (Integer)
 		// Maximum number per processes that causes a cooldown before each worker function call.
 		'worker_processes_cooldown' => 0,
@@ -659,7 +669,7 @@ return [
 		// This is an experimental setting without knowing the performance impact.
 		// Does not work when "worker_fork" is enabled (Needs more testing)
 		'worker_multiple_fetch' => false,
-		
+
 		// worker_defer_limit (Integer)
 		// Per default the systems tries delivering for 15 times before dropping it.
 		'worker_defer_limit' => 15,