diff --git a/code/crates/config/src/lib.rs b/code/crates/config/src/lib.rs
index c9dfd45ff..a0441f4e6 100644
--- a/code/crates/config/src/lib.rs
+++ b/code/crates/config/src/lib.rs
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ pub struct DiscoveryConfig {
 
     /// Ephemeral connection timeout
     #[serde(default)]
+    #[serde(with = "humantime_serde")]
     pub ephemeral_connection_timeout: Duration,
 }