diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8da9d4a1..cf002213 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -23,7 +23,11 @@ Here is what the client API looks like.
 ix::WebSocket webSocket;
 
 std::string url("ws://localhost:8080/");
-webSocket.configure(url);
+webSocket.setUrl(url);
+
+// Optional heart beat, sent every 45 seconds when there isn't any traffic
+// to make sure that load balancers do not kill an idle connection.
+webSocket.setHeartBeatPeriod(45);
 
 // Setup a callback to be fired when a message or an event (open, close, error) is received
 webSocket.setOnMessageCallback(
@@ -305,4 +309,13 @@ A ping message can be sent to the server, with an optional data string.
 
 ```
 websocket.ping("ping data, optional (empty string is ok): limited to 125 bytes long");
+
+### Heartbeat.
+
+You can configure an optional heart beat / keep-alive, sent every 45 seconds
+when there isn't any traffic to make sure that load balancers do not kill an
+idle connection.
+
+```
+webSocket.setHeartBeatPeriod(45);
 ```
diff --git a/ixwebsocket/IXSocket.cpp b/ixwebsocket/IXSocket.cpp
index cfedb3b0..d456d3d2 100644
--- a/ixwebsocket/IXSocket.cpp
+++ b/ixwebsocket/IXSocket.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@
 
 namespace ix 
 {
+    const int Socket::kDefaultPollNoTimeout = -1; // No poll timeout by default
+    const int Socket::kDefaultPollTimeout = kDefaultPollNoTimeout;
+
     Socket::Socket(int fd) : 
         _sockfd(fd)
     {
@@ -32,14 +35,8 @@ namespace ix
         close();
     }
 
-    void Socket::poll(const OnPollCallback& onPollCallback)
+    void Socket::poll(const OnPollCallback& onPollCallback, int timeoutSecs)
     {
-        if (_sockfd == -1)
-        {
-            onPollCallback();
-            return;
-        }
-
         fd_set rfds;
         FD_ZERO(&rfds);
         FD_SET(_sockfd, &rfds);
@@ -48,11 +45,26 @@ namespace ix
         FD_SET(_eventfd.getFd(), &rfds);
 #endif
 
+        struct timeval timeout;
+        timeout.tv_sec = timeoutSecs;
+        timeout.tv_usec = 0;
+
         int sockfd = _sockfd;
         int nfds = (std::max)(sockfd, _eventfd.getFd());
-        select(nfds + 1, &rfds, nullptr, nullptr, nullptr);
+        int ret = select(nfds + 1, &rfds, nullptr, nullptr,
+                         (timeoutSecs == kDefaultPollNoTimeout) ? nullptr : &timeout);
 
-        onPollCallback();
+        PollResultType pollResult = PollResultType_ReadyForRead;
+        if (ret < 0)
+        {
+            pollResult = PollResultType_Error;
+        }
+        else if (ret == 0)
+        {
+            pollResult = PollResultType_Timeout;
+        }
+
+        onPollCallback(pollResult);
     }
 
     void Socket::wakeUpFromPoll()
diff --git a/ixwebsocket/IXSocket.h b/ixwebsocket/IXSocket.h
index 5004d66b..fc72a291 100644
--- a/ixwebsocket/IXSocket.h
+++ b/ixwebsocket/IXSocket.h
@@ -21,16 +21,24 @@ typedef SSIZE_T ssize_t;
 
 namespace ix 
 {
+    enum PollResultType
+    {
+        PollResultType_ReadyForRead = 0,
+        PollResultType_Timeout = 1,
+        PollResultType_Error = 2
+    };
+
     class Socket {
     public:
-        using OnPollCallback = std::function<void()>;
+        using OnPollCallback = std::function<void(PollResultType)>;
 
         Socket(int fd = -1);
         virtual ~Socket();
 
         void configure();
 
-        virtual void poll(const OnPollCallback& onPollCallback);
+        virtual void poll(const OnPollCallback& onPollCallback,
+                          int timeoutSecs = kDefaultPollTimeout);
         virtual void wakeUpFromPoll();
 
         // Virtual methods
@@ -62,5 +70,9 @@ namespace ix
         std::atomic<int> _sockfd;
         std::mutex _socketMutex;
         EventFd _eventfd;
+
+    private:
+        static const int kDefaultPollTimeout;
+        static const int kDefaultPollNoTimeout;
     };
 }
diff --git a/ixwebsocket/IXSocketServer.cpp b/ixwebsocket/IXSocketServer.cpp
index a6344e27..56012e88 100644
--- a/ixwebsocket/IXSocketServer.cpp
+++ b/ixwebsocket/IXSocketServer.cpp
@@ -71,9 +71,11 @@ namespace ix
                        (char*) &enable, sizeof(enable)) < 0)
         {
             std::stringstream ss;
-            ss << "SocketServer::listen() error calling setsockopt(SO_REUSEADDR): "
-               << strerror(errno);
+            ss << "SocketServer::listen() error calling setsockopt(SO_REUSEADDR) "
+               << "at address " << _host << ":" << _port
+               << " : " << strerror(Socket::getErrno());
 
+            ::close(_serverFd);
             return std::make_pair(false, ss.str());
         }
 
@@ -93,21 +95,25 @@ namespace ix
         if (bind(_serverFd, (struct sockaddr *)&server, sizeof(server)) < 0)
         {
             std::stringstream ss;
-            ss << "SocketServer::listen() error calling bind: "
-               << strerror(Socket::getErrno());
+            ss << "SocketServer::listen() error calling bind "
+               << "at address " << _host << ":" << _port
+               << " : " << strerror(Socket::getErrno());
 
+            ::close(_serverFd);
             return std::make_pair(false, ss.str());
         }
 
-        /*
-         * Listen for connections. Specify the tcp backlog.
-         */
-        if (::listen(_serverFd, _backlog) != 0)
+        //
+        // Listen for connections. Specify the tcp backlog.
+        //
+        if (::listen(_serverFd, _backlog) < 0)
         {
             std::stringstream ss;
-            ss << "SocketServer::listen() error calling listen: "
-               << strerror(Socket::getErrno());
+            ss << "SocketServer::listen() error calling listen "
+               << "at address " << _host << ":" << _port
+               << " : " << strerror(Socket::getErrno());
 
+            ::close(_serverFd);
             return std::make_pair(false, ss.str());
         }
 
@@ -136,6 +142,7 @@ namespace ix
         _stop = false;
 
         _conditionVariable.notify_one();
+        ::close(_serverFd);
     }
 
     void SocketServer::run()
diff --git a/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocket.cpp b/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocket.cpp
index b51ed980..d3463cf3 100644
--- a/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocket.cpp
+++ b/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocket.cpp
@@ -31,12 +31,14 @@ namespace ix
 {
     OnTrafficTrackerCallback WebSocket::_onTrafficTrackerCallback = nullptr;
     const int WebSocket::kDefaultHandShakeTimeoutSecs(60);
+    const int WebSocket::kDefaultHeartBeatPeriod(-1);
 
     WebSocket::WebSocket() :
         _onMessageCallback(OnMessageCallback()),
         _stop(false),
         _automaticReconnection(true),
-        _handshakeTimeoutSecs(kDefaultHandShakeTimeoutSecs)
+        _handshakeTimeoutSecs(kDefaultHandShakeTimeoutSecs),
+        _heartBeatPeriod(kDefaultHeartBeatPeriod)
     {
         _ws.setOnCloseCallback(
             [this](uint16_t code, const std::string& reason, size_t wireSize)
@@ -77,6 +79,18 @@ namespace ix
         return _perMessageDeflateOptions;
     }
 
+    void WebSocket::setHeartBeatPeriod(int hearBeatPeriod)
+    {
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(_configMutex);
+        _heartBeatPeriod = hearBeatPeriod;
+    }
+
+    int WebSocket::getHeartBeatPeriod() const
+    {
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(_configMutex);
+        return _heartBeatPeriod;
+    }
+
     void WebSocket::start()
     {
         if (_thread.joinable()) return; // we've already been started
@@ -110,7 +124,8 @@ namespace ix
     {
         {
             std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(_configMutex);
-            _ws.configure(_perMessageDeflateOptions);
+            _ws.configure(_perMessageDeflateOptions,
+                          _heartBeatPeriod);
         }
 
         WebSocketInitResult status = _ws.connectToUrl(_url, timeoutSecs);
@@ -130,7 +145,7 @@ namespace ix
     {
         {
             std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(_configMutex);
-            _ws.configure(_perMessageDeflateOptions);
+            _ws.configure(_perMessageDeflateOptions, _heartBeatPeriod);
         }
 
         WebSocketInitResult status = _ws.connectToSocket(fd, timeoutSecs);
diff --git a/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocket.h b/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocket.h
index ef75d8df..081b0cc4 100644
--- a/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocket.h
+++ b/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocket.h
@@ -86,7 +86,8 @@ namespace ix
 
         void setUrl(const std::string& url);
         void setPerMessageDeflateOptions(const WebSocketPerMessageDeflateOptions& perMessageDeflateOptions);
-        void setHandshakeTimeout(int _handshakeTimeoutSecs);
+        void setHandshakeTimeout(int handshakeTimeoutSecs);
+        void setHeartBeatPeriod(int hearBeatPeriod);
 
         // Run asynchronously, by calling start and stop.
         void start();
@@ -107,6 +108,7 @@ namespace ix
         ReadyState getReadyState() const;
         const std::string& getUrl() const;
         const WebSocketPerMessageDeflateOptions& getPerMessageDeflateOptions() const;
+        int getHeartBeatPeriod() const;
 
         void enableAutomaticReconnection();
         void disableAutomaticReconnection();
@@ -142,6 +144,10 @@ namespace ix
         std::atomic<int> _handshakeTimeoutSecs;
         static const int kDefaultHandShakeTimeoutSecs;
 
+        // Optional Heartbeat
+        int _heartBeatPeriod;
+        static const int kDefaultHeartBeatPeriod;
+
         friend class WebSocketServer;
     };
 }
diff --git a/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocketTransport.cpp b/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocketTransport.cpp
index 4c92a901..15b155f8 100644
--- a/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocketTransport.cpp
+++ b/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocketTransport.cpp
@@ -33,12 +33,17 @@
 
 namespace ix
 {
+    const std::string WebSocketTransport::kHeartBeatPingMessage("ixwebsocket::hearbeat");
+    const int WebSocketTransport::kDefaultHeartBeatPeriod(-1);
+
     WebSocketTransport::WebSocketTransport() :
         _readyState(CLOSED),
         _closeCode(0),
         _closeWireSize(0),
         _enablePerMessageDeflate(false),
-        _requestInitCancellation(false)
+        _requestInitCancellation(false),
+        _heartBeatPeriod(kDefaultHeartBeatPeriod),
+        _lastSendTimePoint(std::chrono::steady_clock::now())
     {
 
     }
@@ -48,10 +53,12 @@ namespace ix
         ;
     }
 
-    void WebSocketTransport::configure(const WebSocketPerMessageDeflateOptions& perMessageDeflateOptions)
+    void WebSocketTransport::configure(const WebSocketPerMessageDeflateOptions& perMessageDeflateOptions,
+                                       int hearBeatPeriod)
     {
         _perMessageDeflateOptions = perMessageDeflateOptions;
         _enablePerMessageDeflate = _perMessageDeflateOptions.enabled();
+        _heartBeatPeriod = hearBeatPeriod;
     }
 
     // Client
@@ -149,11 +156,30 @@ namespace ix
         _onCloseCallback = onCloseCallback; 
     }
 
+    bool WebSocketTransport::exceedSendHeartBeatTimeOut()
+    {
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(_lastSendTimePointMutex);
+        auto now = std::chrono::steady_clock::now();
+        return now - _lastSendTimePoint > std::chrono::seconds(_heartBeatPeriod);
+    }
+
     void WebSocketTransport::poll()
     {
         _socket->poll(
-            [this]()
+            [this](PollResultType pollResult)
             {
+                // If (1) heartbeat is enabled, and (2) no data was received or
+                // send for a duration exceeding our heart-beat period, send a
+                // ping to the server.
+                if (pollResult == PollResultType_Timeout && 
+                    exceedSendHeartBeatTimeOut())
+                {
+                    std::stringstream ss;
+                    ss << kHeartBeatPingMessage << "::" << _heartBeatPeriod << "s";
+                    sendPing(ss.str());
+                    return;
+                }
+
                 while (true) 
                 {
                     int N = (int) _rxbuf.size();
@@ -185,7 +211,8 @@ namespace ix
                     _socket->close();
                     setReadyState(CLOSED);
                 }
-            });
+            },
+            _heartBeatPeriod);
     }
 
     bool WebSocketTransport::isSendBufferEmpty() const
@@ -557,6 +584,9 @@ namespace ix
                 _txbuf.erase(_txbuf.begin(), _txbuf.begin() + ret);
             }
         }
+
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lck(_lastSendTimePointMutex);
+        _lastSendTimePoint = std::chrono::steady_clock::now();
     }
 
     void WebSocketTransport::close()
diff --git a/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocketTransport.h b/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocketTransport.h
index a2289e83..90585c78 100644
--- a/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocketTransport.h
+++ b/ixwebsocket/IXWebSocketTransport.h
@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@ namespace ix
         WebSocketTransport();
         ~WebSocketTransport();
 
-        void configure(const WebSocketPerMessageDeflateOptions& perMessageDeflateOptions);
+        void configure(const WebSocketPerMessageDeflateOptions& perMessageDeflateOptions,
+                       int hearBeatPeriod);
 
         WebSocketInitResult connectToUrl(const std::string& url, // Client
                                          int timeoutSecs);
@@ -116,6 +117,16 @@ namespace ix
 
         // Used to cancel dns lookup + socket connect + http upgrade
         std::atomic<bool> _requestInitCancellation;
+        
+        // Optional Heartbeat
+        int _heartBeatPeriod;
+        static const int kDefaultHeartBeatPeriod;
+        const static std::string kHeartBeatPingMessage;
+        mutable std::mutex _lastSendTimePointMutex;
+        std::chrono::time_point<std::chrono::steady_clock> _lastSendTimePoint;
+
+        // No data was send through the socket for longer that the hearbeat period
+        bool exceedSendHeartBeatTimeOut();
 
         void sendOnSocket();
         WebSocketSendInfo sendData(wsheader_type::opcode_type type, 
diff --git a/makefile b/makefile
index 5fe7df6c..04e384f8 100644
--- a/makefile
+++ b/makefile
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ test_server:
 	(cd test && npm i ws && node broadcast-server.js)
 
 # env TEST=Websocket_server make test
+# env TEST=websocket_server make test
+# env TEST=heartbeat make test
 test:
 	python test/run.py
 
diff --git a/test/CMakeLists.txt b/test/CMakeLists.txt
index c763530e..3a133b4c 100644
--- a/test/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ set (SOURCES
 if (NOT WIN32)
   list(APPEND SOURCES 
     IXWebSocketServerTest.cpp
+    IXWebSocketHeartBeatTest.cpp
     cmd_websocket_chat.cpp
     IXWebSocketTestConnectionDisconnection.cpp
   )
diff --git a/test/IXWebSocketHeartBeatTest.cpp b/test/IXWebSocketHeartBeatTest.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cc1d5510
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/IXWebSocketHeartBeatTest.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,222 @@
+/*
+ *  IXWebSocketHeartBeatTest.cpp
+ *  Author: Benjamin Sergeant
+ *  Copyright (c) 2019 Machine Zone. All rights reserved.
+ */
+
+#include <iostream>
+#include <sstream>
+#include <queue>
+#include <ixwebsocket/IXWebSocket.h>
+#include <ixwebsocket/IXWebSocketServer.h>
+
+#include "IXTest.h"
+
+#include "catch.hpp"
+
+using namespace ix;
+
+namespace
+{
+    class WebSocketClient
+    {
+        public:
+            WebSocketClient(int port);
+
+            void subscribe(const std::string& channel);
+            void start();
+            void stop();
+            bool isReady() const;
+            void sendMessage(const std::string& text);
+
+        private:
+            ix::WebSocket _webSocket;
+            int _port;
+    };
+
+    WebSocketClient::WebSocketClient(int port) 
+        : _port(port)
+    {
+        ;
+    }
+
+    bool WebSocketClient::isReady() const
+    {
+        return _webSocket.getReadyState() == ix::WebSocket_ReadyState_Open;
+    }
+
+    void WebSocketClient::stop()
+    {
+        _webSocket.stop();
+    }
+
+    void WebSocketClient::start()
+    {
+        std::string url;
+        {
+            std::stringstream ss;
+            ss << "ws://localhost:"
+               << _port 
+               << "/";
+
+            url = ss.str();
+        }
+
+        _webSocket.setUrl(url);
+
+        // The important bit for this test. 
+        // Set a 1 second hearbeat ; if no traffic is present on the connection for 1 second
+        // a ping message will be sent by the client.
+        _webSocket.setHeartBeatPeriod(1);
+
+        std::stringstream ss;
+        log(std::string("Connecting to url: ") + url);
+
+        _webSocket.setOnMessageCallback(
+            [](ix::WebSocketMessageType messageType,
+               const std::string& str,
+               size_t wireSize,
+               const ix::WebSocketErrorInfo& error,
+               const ix::WebSocketOpenInfo& openInfo,
+                   const ix::WebSocketCloseInfo& closeInfo)
+            {
+                std::stringstream ss;
+                if (messageType == ix::WebSocket_MessageType_Open)
+                {
+                    log("client connected");
+                }
+                else if (messageType == ix::WebSocket_MessageType_Close)
+                {
+                    log("client disconnected");
+                }
+                else if (messageType == ix::WebSocket_MessageType_Error)
+                {
+                    ss << "Error ! " << error.reason;
+                    log(ss.str());
+                }
+                else if (messageType == ix::WebSocket_MessageType_Pong)
+                {
+                    ss << "Received pong message " << str;
+                    log(ss.str());
+                }
+                else if (messageType == ix::WebSocket_MessageType_Ping)
+                {
+                    ss << "Received ping message " << str;
+                    log(ss.str());
+                }
+                else if (messageType == ix::WebSocket_MessageType_Message)
+                {
+                    ss << "Received message " << str;
+                    log(ss.str());
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    ss << "Invalid ix::WebSocketMessageType";
+                    log(ss.str());
+                }
+            });
+
+        _webSocket.start();
+    }
+
+    void WebSocketClient::sendMessage(const std::string& text)
+    {
+        _webSocket.send(text);
+    }
+
+    bool startServer(ix::WebSocketServer& server, std::atomic<int>& receivedPingMessages)
+    {
+        // A dev/null server
+        server.setOnConnectionCallback(
+            [&server, &receivedPingMessages](std::shared_ptr<ix::WebSocket> webSocket)
+            {
+                webSocket->setOnMessageCallback(
+                    [webSocket, &server, &receivedPingMessages](ix::WebSocketMessageType messageType,
+                       const std::string& str,
+                       size_t wireSize,
+                       const ix::WebSocketErrorInfo& error,
+                       const ix::WebSocketOpenInfo& openInfo,
+                       const ix::WebSocketCloseInfo& closeInfo)
+                    {
+                        if (messageType == ix::WebSocket_MessageType_Open)
+                        {
+                            Logger() << "New server connection";
+                            Logger() << "Uri: " << openInfo.uri;
+                            Logger() << "Headers:";
+                            for (auto it : openInfo.headers)
+                            {
+                                Logger() << it.first << ": " << it.second;
+                            }
+                        }
+                        else if (messageType == ix::WebSocket_MessageType_Close)
+                        {
+                            log("Server closed connection");
+                        }
+                        else if (messageType == ix::WebSocket_MessageType_Ping)
+                        {
+                            log("Server received a ping");
+                            receivedPingMessages++;
+                        }
+                    }
+                );
+            }
+        );
+
+        auto res = server.listen();
+        if (!res.first)
+        {
+            log(res.second);
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        server.start();
+        return true;
+    }
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("Websocket_heartbeat", "[heartbeat]")
+{
+    SECTION("Make sure that ping messages are sent during heartbeat.")
+    {
+        ix::setupWebSocketTrafficTrackerCallback();
+
+        int port = 8093;
+        ix::WebSocketServer server(port);
+        std::atomic<int> serverReceivedPingMessages(0);
+        REQUIRE(startServer(server, serverReceivedPingMessages));
+
+        std::string session = ix::generateSessionId();
+        WebSocketClient webSocketClientA(port);
+        WebSocketClient webSocketClientB(port);
+
+        webSocketClientA.start();
+        webSocketClientB.start();
+
+        // Wait for all chat instance to be ready
+        while (true)
+        {
+            if (webSocketClientA.isReady() && webSocketClientB.isReady()) break;
+            ix::msleep(10);
+        }
+
+        REQUIRE(server.getClients().size() == 2);
+
+        ix::msleep(900);
+        webSocketClientB.sendMessage("hello world");
+        ix::msleep(900);
+        webSocketClientB.sendMessage("hello world");
+        ix::msleep(900);
+
+        webSocketClientA.stop();
+        webSocketClientB.stop();
+
+        REQUIRE(serverReceivedPingMessages >= 2);
+        REQUIRE(serverReceivedPingMessages <= 4);
+
+        // Give us 500ms for the server to notice that clients went away
+        ix::msleep(500);
+        REQUIRE(server.getClients().size() == 0);
+
+        ix::reportWebSocketTraffic();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/test/IXWebSocketTestConnectionDisconnection.cpp b/test/IXWebSocketTestConnectionDisconnection.cpp
index 945a2940..d9bf9bc8 100644
--- a/test/IXWebSocketTestConnectionDisconnection.cpp
+++ b/test/IXWebSocketTestConnectionDisconnection.cpp
@@ -52,12 +52,12 @@ namespace
         log(std::string("Connecting to url: ") + url);
 
         _webSocket.setOnMessageCallback(
-            [this](ix::WebSocketMessageType messageType,
-                   const std::string& str,
-                   size_t wireSize,
-                   const ix::WebSocketErrorInfo& error,
-                   const ix::WebSocketOpenInfo& openInfo,
-                   const ix::WebSocketCloseInfo& closeInfo)
+            [](ix::WebSocketMessageType messageType,
+               const std::string& str,
+               size_t wireSize,
+               const ix::WebSocketErrorInfo& error,
+               const ix::WebSocketOpenInfo& openInfo,
+               const ix::WebSocketCloseInfo& closeInfo)
             {
                 std::stringstream ss;
                 if (messageType == ix::WebSocket_MessageType_Open)
diff --git a/test/cmd_websocket_chat.cpp b/test/cmd_websocket_chat.cpp
index da131df1..b3a49f45 100644
--- a/test/cmd_websocket_chat.cpp
+++ b/test/cmd_websocket_chat.cpp
@@ -4,11 +4,6 @@
  *  Copyright (c) 2017 Machine Zone. All rights reserved.
  */
 
-//
-// Simple chat program that talks to the node.js server at
-// websocket_chat_server/broacast-server.js
-//
-
 #include <iostream>
 #include <sstream>
 #include <queue>
diff --git a/test/run.py b/test/run.py
index 2f78c61d..3cee95bd 100644
--- a/test/run.py
+++ b/test/run.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ if osName == 'Windows':
     testBinary ='ixwebsocket_unittest.exe'
 else:
     generator = ''
-    make = 'make'
+    make = 'make -j6'
     testBinary ='./ixwebsocket_unittest' 
 
 sanitizersFlags = {