diff --git a/etc/ironic/ironic.conf.sample b/etc/ironic/ironic.conf.sample
index 55b72b26e6..096171bbad 100644
--- a/etc/ironic/ironic.conf.sample
+++ b/etc/ironic/ironic.conf.sample
@@ -1144,6 +1144,12 @@
 # the temporary directory will be used. (string value)
 #terminal_pid_dir = <None>
 
+# Timeout (in seconds) for the terminal session to be closed
+# on inactivity. Set to 0 to disable timeout. Used only by
+# Socat console. (integer value)
+# Minimum value: 0
+#terminal_timeout = 600
+
 # Time interval (in seconds) for checking the status of
 # console subprocess. (integer value)
 #subprocess_checking_interval = 1
diff --git a/ironic/conf/console.py b/ironic/conf/console.py
index a6df1b5616..9a9999664d 100644
--- a/ironic/conf/console.py
+++ b/ironic/conf/console.py
@@ -31,6 +31,12 @@ opts = [
                help=_('Directory for holding terminal pid files. '
                       'If not specified, the temporary directory '
                       'will be used.')),
+    cfg.IntOpt('terminal_timeout',
+               default=600,
+               min=0,
+               help=_('Timeout (in seconds) for the terminal session to be '
+                      'closed on inactivity. Set to 0 to disable timeout. '
+                      'Used only by Socat console.')),
     cfg.IntOpt('subprocess_checking_interval',
                default=1,
                help=_('Time interval (in seconds) for checking the status of '
diff --git a/ironic/drivers/modules/console_utils.py b/ironic/drivers/modules/console_utils.py
index 07a6b800f6..02c21738c1 100644
--- a/ironic/drivers/modules/console_utils.py
+++ b/ironic/drivers/modules/console_utils.py
@@ -282,10 +282,11 @@ def start_socat_console(node_uuid, port, console_cmd):
 
     # put together the command and arguments for invoking the console
     args = ['socat']
-    # set timeout check for user's connection. After 10min of inactivity
-    # on client side, connection will be closed.
-    # TODO(ashestakov) Make timeout value configurable
-    args.append('-T600')
+    # set timeout check for user's connection. If the timeout value
+    # is not 0, after timeout seconds of inactivity on the client side,
+    # the connection will be closed.
+    if CONF.console.terminal_timeout > 0:
+        args.append('-T%d' % CONF.console.terminal_timeout)
     args.append('-L%s' % pid_file)
 
     console_host = CONF.my_ip
diff --git a/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/test_console_utils.py b/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/test_console_utils.py
index d4e9a13231..1282eab0f3 100644
--- a/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/test_console_utils.py
+++ b/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/test_console_utils.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import tempfile
 from ironic_lib import utils as ironic_utils
 import mock
 from oslo_config import cfg
+from oslo_service import loopingcall
 from oslo_utils import netutils
 import psutil
 
@@ -401,6 +402,44 @@ class ConsoleUtilsTestCase(db_base.DbTestCase):
         url = console_utils.get_socat_console_url(self.info['port'])
         self.assertEqual("tcp://[::1]:%s" % self.info['port'], url)
 
+    @mock.patch.object(subprocess, 'Popen', autospec=True)
+    @mock.patch.object(console_utils, '_get_console_pid_file', autospec=True)
+    @mock.patch.object(console_utils, '_ensure_console_pid_dir_exists',
+                       autospec=True)
+    @mock.patch.object(console_utils, '_stop_console', autospec=True)
+    @mock.patch.object(loopingcall.FixedIntervalLoopingCall, 'start',
+                       autospec=True)
+    def _test_start_socat_console_check_arg(self, mock_timer_start,
+                                            mock_stop, mock_dir_exists,
+                                            mock_get_pid, mock_popen):
+        mock_timer_start.return_value = mock.Mock()
+        mock_get_pid.return_value = '/tmp/%s.pid' % self.info['uuid']
+
+        console_utils.start_socat_console(self.info['uuid'],
+                                          self.info['port'],
+                                          'ls&')
+
+        mock_stop.assert_called_once_with(self.info['uuid'])
+        mock_dir_exists.assert_called_once_with()
+        mock_get_pid.assert_called_once_with(self.info['uuid'])
+        mock_timer_start.assert_called_once_with(mock.ANY, interval=mock.ANY)
+        mock_popen.assert_called_once_with(mock.ANY, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+        return mock_popen.call_args[0][0]
+
+    def test_start_socat_console_check_arg_default_timeout(self):
+        args = self._test_start_socat_console_check_arg()
+        self.assertIn('-T600', args)
+
+    def test_start_socat_console_check_arg_timeout(self):
+        self.config(terminal_timeout=1, group='console')
+        args = self._test_start_socat_console_check_arg()
+        self.assertIn('-T1', args)
+
+    def test_start_socat_console_check_arg_timeout_disabled(self):
+        self.config(terminal_timeout=0, group='console')
+        args = self._test_start_socat_console_check_arg()
+        self.assertNotIn('-T0', args)
+
     @mock.patch.object(os.path, 'exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(subprocess, 'Popen', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(psutil, 'pid_exists', autospec=True)
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/make-terminal-session-timeout-configurable-b2365b7699b0f98b.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/make-terminal-session-timeout-configurable-b2365b7699b0f98b.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ad29f8de74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/make-terminal-session-timeout-configurable-b2365b7699b0f98b.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+other:
+  - |
+    Adds configuration parameter ``terminal_timeout`` to section [console]
+    to allow operators to set the timeout value for the Socat console session.
+    It is time of client inactivity, in seconds, after which the connection
+    will be closed.
\ No newline at end of file