diff --git a/examples/ramenkan/ramenkan.config.lua b/examples/ramenkan/ramenkan.config.lua
index 9d56713..aa75da4 100644
--- a/examples/ramenkan/ramenkan.config.lua
+++ b/examples/ramenkan/ramenkan.config.lua
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ ramen.noodle_shapes = {
 }
 
 ramen.broths = {
-  "miso", "spicy miso", "soy sauce", "grilled soy sauce and Rishiri kelp",
+  "miso", "spicy miso", "soy sauce", "soy sauce and grilled Rishiri kelp",
   "salt", "salt and soy sauce",
 }
 
@@ -393,6 +393,7 @@ itte_config = {
 -- Custom variables
 itte_config.ramen = ramen
 
+itte_config.messages.announce = "Now serving! "
 itte_config.messages.serve = "{{ramen}}  ⊂(・▽・⊂)"
 itte_config.messages.special = "**SPECIAL!!!** {{ramen}} " ..
   "☆*:・ﾟ o(^ ∀ ^ o)"
@@ -428,7 +429,7 @@ function h.ramen(cxt, msg)
   -- Scheduled task recipients
   if msg.recipients ~= nil then
     recipients = msg.recipients
-    intro = "Now serving! "
+    intro = itte_config.messages.announce
   end
 
   -- 1% chance of special set
diff --git a/itte.lua b/itte.lua
index f6be9fa..de80eb2 100644
--- a/itte.lua
+++ b/itte.lua
@@ -294,6 +294,7 @@ function itte.init_socket(name, svr)
     cap_checked = false,
     ns_checked = false,
     authed = false,
+    ping_time = 0,
   }
 
   -- Connect
@@ -836,6 +837,7 @@ function itte.listen(name, str)
 
   -- Respond to server ping
   if util.is_substr(str, cxt.cmds.ping.check) then
+    cxt.state.ping_time = os.time()
     util.debug(itte.config.debugs.listen[1], str, itte.config.debug)
     itte.send_command(cxt.con, string.gsub(str, cxt.cmds.ping.check,
       cxt.cmds.ping.resp))
@@ -880,9 +882,17 @@ itte.docs.add_listener = [[  (context_table)
   ]]
 function itte.add_listener(cxt)
   local data, status = cxt.con:receive()
+  local delta = os.time() - cxt.state.ping_time
   if data ~= nil then
     itte.listen(cxt.name, data)
 
+  -- Send a pong every 120s in case the ping request was lost, e.g. during high
+  -- system load. Servers may send a ping request every ~90s. Disconnects from
+  -- ping timeouts occur at ~2m30s.
+  elseif (cxt.state.ping_time > 0) and (delta > 120) then
+    itte.send_command(cxt.con, cxt.cmds.ping.resp)
+    cxt.state.ping_time = os.time()
+
   elseif status == "closed" then
     itte.disconnect_server(cxt.name)
   end