diff --git a/drivers/net/ovpn/io.c b/drivers/net/ovpn/io.c
index cde1c8ce5cf5..60b47350d841 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ovpn/io.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ovpn/io.c
@@ -25,6 +25,33 @@
 #include "udp.h"
 #include "skb.h"
 
+const unsigned char ovpn_keepalive_message[OVPN_KEEPALIVE_SIZE] = {
+	0x2a, 0x18, 0x7b, 0xf3, 0x64, 0x1e, 0xb4, 0xcb,
+	0x07, 0xed, 0x2d, 0x0a, 0x98, 0x1f, 0xc7, 0x48
+};
+
+/**
+ * ovpn_is_keepalive - check if skb contains a keepalive message
+ * @skb: packet to check
+ *
+ * Assumes that the first byte of skb->data is defined.
+ *
+ * Return: true if skb contains a keepalive or false otherwise
+ */
+static bool ovpn_is_keepalive(struct sk_buff *skb)
+{
+	if (*skb->data != ovpn_keepalive_message[0])
+		return false;
+
+	if (skb->len != OVPN_KEEPALIVE_SIZE)
+		return false;
+
+	if (!pskb_may_pull(skb, OVPN_KEEPALIVE_SIZE))
+		return false;
+
+	return !memcmp(skb->data, ovpn_keepalive_message, OVPN_KEEPALIVE_SIZE);
+}
+
 /* Called after decrypt to write the IP packet to the device.
  * This method is expected to manage/free the skb.
  */
@@ -88,6 +115,9 @@ void ovpn_decrypt_post(struct sk_buff *skb, int ret)
 		goto drop;
 	}
 
+	/* keep track of last received authenticated packet for keepalive */
+	peer->last_recv = ktime_get_real_seconds();
+
 	/* point to encapsulated IP packet */
 	__skb_pull(skb, ovpn_skb_cb(skb)->ctx->payload_offset);
 
@@ -104,6 +134,12 @@ void ovpn_decrypt_post(struct sk_buff *skb, int ret)
 			goto drop;
 		}
 
+		if (ovpn_is_keepalive(skb)) {
+			net_dbg_ratelimited("%s: ping received from peer %u\n",
+					    peer->ovpn->dev->name, peer->id);
+			goto drop;
+		}
+
 		net_info_ratelimited("%s: unsupported protocol received from peer %u\n",
 				     peer->ovpn->dev->name, peer->id);
 		goto drop;
@@ -194,6 +230,10 @@ void ovpn_encrypt_post(struct sk_buff *skb, int ret)
 		/* no transport configured yet */
 		goto err;
 	}
+
+	/* keep track of last sent packet for keepalive */
+	peer->last_sent = ktime_get_real_seconds();
+
 	/* skb passed down the stack - don't free it */
 	skb = NULL;
 err:
@@ -338,3 +378,40 @@ netdev_tx_t ovpn_net_xmit(struct sk_buff *skb, struct net_device *dev)
 	kfree_skb_list(skb);
 	return NET_XMIT_DROP;
 }
+
+/**
+ * ovpn_xmit_special - encrypt and transmit an out-of-band message to peer
+ * @peer: peer to send the message to
+ * @data: message content
+ * @len: message length
+ *
+ * Assumes that caller holds a reference to peer
+ */
+void ovpn_xmit_special(struct ovpn_peer *peer, const void *data,
+		       const unsigned int len)
+{
+	struct ovpn_struct *ovpn;
+	struct sk_buff *skb;
+
+	ovpn = peer->ovpn;
+	if (unlikely(!ovpn))
+		return;
+
+	skb = alloc_skb(256 + len, GFP_ATOMIC);
+	if (unlikely(!skb))
+		return;
+
+	skb_reserve(skb, 128);
+	skb->priority = TC_PRIO_BESTEFFORT;
+	__skb_put_data(skb, data, len);
+
+	/* increase reference counter when passing peer to sending queue */
+	if (!ovpn_peer_hold(peer)) {
+		netdev_dbg(ovpn->dev, "%s: cannot hold peer reference for sending special packet\n",
+			   __func__);
+		kfree_skb(skb);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	ovpn_send(ovpn, skb, peer);
+}
diff --git a/drivers/net/ovpn/io.h b/drivers/net/ovpn/io.h
index ad741552d742..7eae8d1b368d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ovpn/io.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ovpn/io.h
@@ -10,9 +10,14 @@
 #ifndef _NET_OVPN_OVPN_H_
 #define _NET_OVPN_OVPN_H_
 
+#define OVPN_KEEPALIVE_SIZE 16
+extern const unsigned char ovpn_keepalive_message[OVPN_KEEPALIVE_SIZE];
+
 netdev_tx_t ovpn_net_xmit(struct sk_buff *skb, struct net_device *dev);
 
 void ovpn_recv(struct ovpn_peer *peer, struct sk_buff *skb);
+void ovpn_xmit_special(struct ovpn_peer *peer, const void *data,
+		       const unsigned int len);
 
 void ovpn_encrypt_post(struct sk_buff *skb, int ret);
 void ovpn_decrypt_post(struct sk_buff *skb, int ret);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ovpn/main.c b/drivers/net/ovpn/main.c
index 94d2ee87807f..0f9d79a05f4f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ovpn/main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ovpn/main.c
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ static int ovpn_struct_init(struct net_device *dev, enum ovpn_mode mode)
 	ovpn->dev = dev;
 	ovpn->mode = mode;
 	spin_lock_init(&ovpn->lock);
+	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&ovpn->keepalive_work, ovpn_peer_keepalive_work);
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -249,6 +250,8 @@ void ovpn_iface_destruct(struct ovpn_struct *ovpn)
 
 	ovpn->registered = false;
 
+	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&ovpn->keepalive_work);
+
 	switch (ovpn->mode) {
 	case OVPN_MODE_P2P:
 		ovpn_peer_release_p2p(ovpn);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ovpn/ovpnstruct.h b/drivers/net/ovpn/ovpnstruct.h
index 3d74e79fcdf3..0fdc6ab77eaa 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ovpn/ovpnstruct.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ovpn/ovpnstruct.h
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ struct ovpn_peer_collection {
  * @peer: in P2P mode, this is the only remote peer
  * @dev_list: entry for the module wide device list
  * @gro_cells: pointer to the Generic Receive Offload cell
+ * @keepalive_work: struct used to schedule keepalive periodic job
  */
 struct ovpn_struct {
 	struct net_device *dev;
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ struct ovpn_struct {
 	struct ovpn_peer __rcu *peer;
 	struct list_head dev_list;
 	struct gro_cells gro_cells;
+	struct delayed_work keepalive_work;
 };
 
 #endif /* _NET_OVPN_OVPNSTRUCT_H_ */
diff --git a/drivers/net/ovpn/peer.c b/drivers/net/ovpn/peer.c
index 1225032e605c..a3f4f3231f3b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ovpn/peer.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ovpn/peer.c
@@ -22,6 +22,34 @@
 #include "peer.h"
 #include "socket.h"
 
+/**
+ * ovpn_peer_keepalive_set - configure keepalive values for peer
+ * @peer: the peer to configure
+ * @interval: outgoing keepalive interval
+ * @timeout: incoming keepalive timeout
+ */
+void ovpn_peer_keepalive_set(struct ovpn_peer *peer, u32 interval, u32 timeout)
+{
+	time64_t now = ktime_get_real_seconds();
+
+	netdev_dbg(peer->ovpn->dev,
+		   "%s: scheduling keepalive for peer %u: interval=%u timeout=%u\n",
+		   __func__, peer->id, interval, timeout);
+
+	peer->keepalive_interval = interval;
+	peer->last_sent = now;
+	peer->keepalive_xmit_exp = now + interval;
+
+	peer->keepalive_timeout = timeout;
+	peer->last_recv = now;
+	peer->keepalive_recv_exp = now + timeout;
+
+	/* now that interval and timeout have been changed, kick
+	 * off the worker so that the next delay can be recomputed
+	 */
+	mod_delayed_work(system_wq, &peer->ovpn->keepalive_work, 0);
+}
+
 /**
  * ovpn_peer_new - allocate and initialize a new peer object
  * @ovpn: the openvpn instance inside which the peer should be created
@@ -77,6 +105,7 @@ static void ovpn_peer_release(struct ovpn_peer *peer)
 
 	ovpn_crypto_state_release(&peer->crypto);
 	ovpn_bind_reset(peer, NULL);
+
 	dst_cache_destroy(&peer->dst_cache);
 }
 
@@ -822,6 +851,19 @@ int ovpn_peer_del(struct ovpn_peer *peer, enum ovpn_del_peer_reason reason)
 	}
 }
 
+static int ovpn_peer_del_nolock(struct ovpn_peer *peer,
+				enum ovpn_del_peer_reason reason)
+{
+	switch (peer->ovpn->mode) {
+	case OVPN_MODE_MP:
+		return ovpn_peer_del_mp(peer, reason);
+	case OVPN_MODE_P2P:
+		return ovpn_peer_del_p2p(peer, reason);
+	default:
+		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
+	}
+}
+
 /**
  * ovpn_peers_free - free all peers in the instance
  * @ovpn: the instance whose peers should be released
@@ -837,3 +879,147 @@ void ovpn_peers_free(struct ovpn_struct *ovpn)
 		ovpn_peer_unhash(peer, OVPN_DEL_PEER_REASON_TEARDOWN);
 	spin_unlock_bh(&ovpn->peers->lock_by_id);
 }
+
+static time64_t ovpn_peer_keepalive_work_single(struct ovpn_peer *peer,
+						time64_t now)
+{
+	time64_t next_run1, next_run2, delta;
+	unsigned long timeout, interval;
+	bool expired;
+
+	spin_lock_bh(&peer->lock);
+	/* we expect both timers to be configured at the same time,
+	 * therefore bail out if either is not set
+	 */
+	if (!peer->keepalive_timeout || !peer->keepalive_interval) {
+		spin_unlock_bh(&peer->lock);
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	/* check for peer timeout */
+	expired = false;
+	timeout = peer->keepalive_timeout;
+	delta = now - peer->last_recv;
+	if (delta < timeout) {
+		peer->keepalive_recv_exp = now + timeout - delta;
+		next_run1 = peer->keepalive_recv_exp;
+	} else if (peer->keepalive_recv_exp > now) {
+		next_run1 = peer->keepalive_recv_exp;
+	} else {
+		expired = true;
+	}
+
+	if (expired) {
+		/* peer is dead -> kill it and move on */
+		spin_unlock_bh(&peer->lock);
+		netdev_dbg(peer->ovpn->dev, "peer %u expired\n",
+			   peer->id);
+		ovpn_peer_del_nolock(peer, OVPN_DEL_PEER_REASON_EXPIRED);
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	/* check for peer keepalive */
+	expired = false;
+	interval = peer->keepalive_interval;
+	delta = now - peer->last_sent;
+	if (delta < interval) {
+		peer->keepalive_xmit_exp = now + interval - delta;
+		next_run2 = peer->keepalive_xmit_exp;
+	} else if (peer->keepalive_xmit_exp > now) {
+		next_run2 = peer->keepalive_xmit_exp;
+	} else {
+		expired = true;
+		next_run2 = now + interval;
+	}
+	spin_unlock_bh(&peer->lock);
+
+	if (expired) {
+		/* a keepalive packet is required */
+		netdev_dbg(peer->ovpn->dev,
+			   "sending keepalive to peer %u\n",
+			   peer->id);
+		ovpn_xmit_special(peer, ovpn_keepalive_message,
+				  sizeof(ovpn_keepalive_message));
+	}
+
+	if (next_run1 < next_run2)
+		return next_run1;
+
+	return next_run2;
+}
+
+static time64_t ovpn_peer_keepalive_work_mp(struct ovpn_struct *ovpn,
+					    time64_t now)
+{
+	time64_t tmp_next_run, next_run = 0;
+	struct hlist_node *tmp;
+	struct ovpn_peer *peer;
+	int bkt;
+
+	spin_lock_bh(&ovpn->peers->lock_by_id);
+	hash_for_each_safe(ovpn->peers->by_id, bkt, tmp, peer, hash_entry_id) {
+		tmp_next_run = ovpn_peer_keepalive_work_single(peer, now);
+
+		/* the next worker run will be scheduled based on the shortest
+		 * required interval across all peers
+		 */
+		if (!next_run || tmp_next_run < next_run)
+			next_run = tmp_next_run;
+	}
+	spin_unlock_bh(&ovpn->peers->lock_by_id);
+
+	return next_run;
+}
+
+static time64_t ovpn_peer_keepalive_work_p2p(struct ovpn_struct *ovpn,
+					     time64_t now)
+{
+	struct ovpn_peer *peer;
+	time64_t next_run;
+
+	spin_lock_bh(&ovpn->lock);
+	peer = rcu_dereference_protected(ovpn->peer,
+					 lockdep_is_held(&ovpn->lock));
+	next_run = ovpn_peer_keepalive_work_single(peer, now);
+	spin_unlock_bh(&ovpn->lock);
+
+	return next_run;
+}
+
+/**
+ * ovpn_peer_keepalive_work - run keepalive logic on each known peer
+ * @work: pointer to the work member of the related ovpn object
+ *
+ * Each peer has two timers (if configured):
+ * 1. peer timeout: when no data is received for a certain interval,
+ *    the peer is considered dead and it gets killed.
+ * 2. peer keepalive: when no data is sent to a certain peer for a
+ *    certain interval, a special 'keepalive' packet is explicitly sent.
+ *
+ * This function iterates across the whole peer collection while
+ * checking the timers described above.
+ */
+void ovpn_peer_keepalive_work(struct work_struct *work)
+{
+	struct ovpn_struct *ovpn = container_of(work, struct ovpn_struct,
+						keepalive_work.work);
+	time64_t next_run = 0, now = ktime_get_real_seconds();
+
+	switch (ovpn->mode) {
+	case OVPN_MODE_MP:
+		next_run = ovpn_peer_keepalive_work_mp(ovpn, now);
+		break;
+	case OVPN_MODE_P2P:
+		next_run = ovpn_peer_keepalive_work_p2p(ovpn, now);
+		break;
+	}
+
+	/* prevent rearming if the interface is being destroyed */
+	if (next_run > 0 && ovpn->registered) {
+		netdev_dbg(ovpn->dev,
+			   "scheduling keepalive work: now=%llu next_run=%llu delta=%llu\n",
+			   next_run, now, next_run - now);
+		schedule_delayed_work(&ovpn->keepalive_work,
+				      (next_run - now) * HZ);
+	}
+}
diff --git a/drivers/net/ovpn/peer.h b/drivers/net/ovpn/peer.h
index dc51cc93ef20..b632fabf9524 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ovpn/peer.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ovpn/peer.h
@@ -50,6 +50,12 @@
  * @crypto: the crypto configuration (ciphers, keys, etc..)
  * @dst_cache: cache for dst_entry used to send to peer
  * @bind: remote peer binding
+ * @keepalive_interval: seconds after which a new keepalive should be sent
+ * @keepalive_xmit_exp: future timestamp when next keepalive should be sent
+ * @last_sent: timestamp of the last successfully sent packet
+ * @keepalive_timeout: seconds after which an inactive peer is considered dead
+ * @keepalive_recv_exp: future timestamp when the peer should expire
+ * @last_recv: timestamp of the last authenticated received packet
  * @halt: true if ovpn_peer_mark_delete was called
  * @vpn_stats: per-peer in-VPN TX/RX stays
  * @link_stats: per-peer link/transport TX/RX stats
@@ -98,6 +104,12 @@ struct ovpn_peer {
 	struct ovpn_crypto_state crypto;
 	struct dst_cache dst_cache;
 	struct ovpn_bind __rcu *bind;
+	unsigned long keepalive_interval;
+	unsigned long keepalive_xmit_exp;
+	time64_t last_sent;
+	unsigned long keepalive_timeout;
+	unsigned long keepalive_recv_exp;
+	time64_t last_recv;
 	bool halt;
 	struct ovpn_peer_stats vpn_stats;
 	struct ovpn_peer_stats link_stats;
@@ -144,4 +156,7 @@ struct ovpn_peer *ovpn_peer_get_by_dst(struct ovpn_struct *ovpn,
 bool ovpn_peer_check_by_src(struct ovpn_struct *ovpn, struct sk_buff *skb,
 			    struct ovpn_peer *peer);
 
+void ovpn_peer_keepalive_set(struct ovpn_peer *peer, u32 interval, u32 timeout);
+void ovpn_peer_keepalive_work(struct work_struct *work);
+
 #endif /* _NET_OVPN_OVPNPEER_H_ */
diff --git a/drivers/net/ovpn/proto.h b/drivers/net/ovpn/proto.h
index 32af6b8e5743..0de8bafadc89 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ovpn/proto.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ovpn/proto.h
@@ -35,8 +35,6 @@
 #define OVPN_OP_SIZE_V2	4
 #define OVPN_PEER_ID_MASK 0x00FFFFFF
 #define OVPN_PEER_ID_UNDEF 0x00FFFFFF
-/* first byte of keepalive message */
-#define OVPN_KEEPALIVE_FIRST_BYTE 0x2a
 /* first byte of exit message */
 #define OVPN_EXPLICIT_EXIT_NOTIFY_FIRST_BYTE 0x28
 
