diff --git a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
index 27cc2d0..1428bb0 100644
--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -10,3 +10,6 @@ static const char *colorname[NUMCOLS] = {
 
 /* treat a cleared input like a wrong password (color) */
 static const int failonclear = 1;
+
+/* time in seconds before the monitor shuts down */
+static const int monitortime = 5;