diff --git a/k8s/worker-deployment.yaml b/k8s/worker-deployment.yaml
index feca753..2a4b1f3 100644
--- a/k8s/worker-deployment.yaml
+++ b/k8s/worker-deployment.yaml
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ spec:
               value: "qwen2.5-14b"
             - name: WORKER_CLAIM_LIMIT
               value: "8"
+            - name: WORKER_LEASE_TIMEOUT
+              value: "45m"
           envFrom:
             - configMapRef:
                 name: ai-service-config