diff --git a/packages/grpc-js-core/src/channel.ts b/packages/grpc-js-core/src/channel.ts
index 862cd865..5fc3b916 100644
--- a/packages/grpc-js-core/src/channel.ts
+++ b/packages/grpc-js-core/src/channel.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ const BACKOFF_MULTIPLIER = 1.6;
 const MAX_BACKOFF_MS = 120000;
 const BACKOFF_JITTER = 0.2;
 
-const KEEPALIVE_TIME_MS = Number.MAX_VALUE;
+const KEEPALIVE_TIME_MS = 1 << 31;
 const KEEPALIVE_TIMEOUT_MS = 20000;
 
 const {