diff --git a/lib/nvme/nvme_ctrlr.c b/lib/nvme/nvme_ctrlr.c
index 39a6ac3b5..b9e73ad11 100644
--- a/lib/nvme/nvme_ctrlr.c
+++ b/lib/nvme/nvme_ctrlr.c
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ spdk_nvme_ctrlr_get_default_ctrlr_opts(struct spdk_nvme_ctrlr_opts *opts, size_t
 	}
 
 	if (FIELD_OK(keep_alive_timeout_ms)) {
-		opts->keep_alive_timeout_ms = 10 * 1000;
+		opts->keep_alive_timeout_ms = MIN_KEEP_ALIVE_TIMEOUT_IN_MS;
 	}
 
 	if (FIELD_OK(io_queue_size)) {
diff --git a/lib/nvme/nvme_internal.h b/lib/nvme/nvme_internal.h
index 92d4753e9..785152fb0 100644
--- a/lib/nvme/nvme_internal.h
+++ b/lib/nvme/nvme_internal.h
@@ -135,6 +135,8 @@ extern pid_t g_spdk_nvme_pid;
 #define DEFAULT_ADMIN_QUEUE_REQUESTS	(32)
 #define DEFAULT_IO_QUEUE_REQUESTS	(512)
 
+#define MIN_KEEP_ALIVE_TIMEOUT_IN_MS	(10000)
+
 /* We want to fit submission and completion rings each in a single 2MB
  * hugepage to ensure physical address contiguity.
  */