diff --git a/agent/consul/config.go b/agent/consul/config.go
index d7e92943b..c55368590 100644
--- a/agent/consul/config.go
+++ b/agent/consul/config.go
@@ -537,6 +537,10 @@ func DefaultConfig() *Config {
 	conf.SerfLANConfig.MemberlistConfig.BindPort = DefaultLANSerfPort
 	conf.SerfWANConfig.MemberlistConfig.BindPort = DefaultWANSerfPort
 
+	// Allow dead nodes to be replaced after 30 seconds.
+	conf.SerfLANConfig.MemberlistConfig.DeadNodeReclaimTime = 30 * time.Second
+	conf.SerfWANConfig.MemberlistConfig.DeadNodeReclaimTime = 30 * time.Second
+
 	// Raft protocol version 3 only works with other Consul servers running
 	// 0.8.0 or later.
 	conf.RaftConfig.ProtocolVersion = 3
diff --git a/agent/consul/server_test.go b/agent/consul/server_test.go
index 9378c34ed..841179ac8 100644
--- a/agent/consul/server_test.go
+++ b/agent/consul/server_test.go
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ func testServerConfig(t *testing.T) (string, *Config) {
 	config.SerfLANConfig.MemberlistConfig.ProbeTimeout = 50 * time.Millisecond
 	config.SerfLANConfig.MemberlistConfig.ProbeInterval = 100 * time.Millisecond
 	config.SerfLANConfig.MemberlistConfig.GossipInterval = 100 * time.Millisecond
+	config.SerfLANConfig.MemberlistConfig.DeadNodeReclaimTime = 100 * time.Millisecond
 
 	config.SerfWANConfig.MemberlistConfig.BindAddr = "127.0.0.1"
 	config.SerfWANConfig.MemberlistConfig.BindPort = ports[2]
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@ func testServerConfig(t *testing.T) (string, *Config) {
 	config.SerfWANConfig.MemberlistConfig.ProbeTimeout = 50 * time.Millisecond
 	config.SerfWANConfig.MemberlistConfig.ProbeInterval = 100 * time.Millisecond
 	config.SerfWANConfig.MemberlistConfig.GossipInterval = 100 * time.Millisecond
+	config.SerfWANConfig.MemberlistConfig.DeadNodeReclaimTime = 100 * time.Millisecond
 
 	config.RaftConfig.LeaderLeaseTimeout = 100 * time.Millisecond
 	config.RaftConfig.HeartbeatTimeout = 200 * time.Millisecond