diff --git a/net/upnp/src/etc/inc/plugins.inc.d/miniupnpd.inc b/net/upnp/src/etc/inc/plugins.inc.d/miniupnpd.inc
index d9b91c746..e7cddffd5 100644
--- a/net/upnp/src/etc/inc/plugins.inc.d/miniupnpd.inc
+++ b/net/upnp/src/etc/inc/plugins.inc.d/miniupnpd.inc
@@ -211,7 +211,8 @@ function miniupnpd_configure_do($verbose = false)
             $config_text .= "enable_upnp="   . ( $upnp_config['enable_upnp']   ? "yes\n" : "no\n" );
             $config_text .= "enable_natpmp=" . ( $upnp_config['enable_natpmp'] ? "yes\n" : "no\n" );
 
-            /* configure default lifetimes */
+            /* configure lifetimes to force periodic expire */
+            $config_text .= "clean_ruleset_interval=600\n";
             $config_text .= "min_lifetime=120\n";
             $config_text .= "max_lifetime=86400\n";