diff --git a/packages/playwright-core/src/tools/utils/mcp/server.ts b/packages/playwright-core/src/tools/utils/mcp/server.ts
index 9404ff33e0871..4bd2ea7eef76f 100644
--- a/packages/playwright-core/src/tools/utils/mcp/server.ts
+++ b/packages/playwright-core/src/tools/utils/mcp/server.ts
@@ -151,11 +151,27 @@ const initializeServer = async (server: ServerType, factory: ServerBackendFactor
   return backend;
 };
 
+const defaultPingTimeout = 5000;
+
+const pingTimeout = (): number => {
+  const value = process.env.PLAYWRIGHT_MCP_PING_TIMEOUT_MS;
+  if (value === undefined)
+    return defaultPingTimeout;
+  const parsed = Number(value);
+  if (!Number.isFinite(parsed))
+    return defaultPingTimeout;
+  return parsed;
+};
+
 const startHeartbeat = (server: ServerType) => {
+  const timeout = pingTimeout();
+  if (timeout <= 0)
+    return;
+
   const beat = () => {
     Promise.race([
       server.ping(),
-      new Promise((_, reject) => setTimeout(() => reject(new Error('ping timeout')), 5000)),
+      new Promise((_, reject) => setTimeout(() => reject(new Error('ping timeout')), timeout)),
     ]).then(() => {
       setTimeout(beat, 3000);
     }).catch(() => {
diff --git a/tests/mcp/http.spec.ts b/tests/mcp/http.spec.ts
index 18d231330d54e..0f761b8ce43c8 100644
--- a/tests/mcp/http.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/mcp/http.spec.ts
@@ -24,13 +24,13 @@ import { test as baseTest, expect, mcpServerPath, formatLog } from './fixtures';
 import { inheritAndCleanEnv } from '../config/utils';
 
 import type { Config } from '../../packages/playwright-core/src/tools/mcp/config.d';
-import { ListRootsRequestSchema } from 'playwright-core/lib/utilsBundle';
+import { ListRootsRequestSchema, PingRequestSchema } from 'playwright-core/lib/utilsBundle';
 
-const test = baseTest.extend<{ serverEndpoint: (options?: { args?: string[], noPort?: boolean }) => Promise<{ url: URL, stderr: () => string }> }>({
+const test = baseTest.extend<{ serverEndpoint: (options?: { args?: string[], noPort?: boolean, env?: Record<string, string> }) => Promise<{ url: URL, stderr: () => string }> }>({
   serverEndpoint: async ({ mcpHeadless }, use, testInfo) => {
     let cp: ChildProcess | undefined;
     const userDataDir = testInfo.outputPath('user-data-dir');
-    await use(async (options?: { args?: string[], noPort?: boolean }) => {
+    await use(async (options?: { args?: string[], noPort?: boolean, env?: Record<string, string> }) => {
       if (cp)
         throw new Error('Process already running');
 
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ const test = baseTest.extend<{ serverEndpoint: (options?: { args?: string[], noP
           DEBUG: 'pw:mcp:test',
           DEBUG_COLORS: '0',
           DEBUG_HIDE_DATE: '1',
+          ...options?.env,
         }),
         cwd: testInfo.outputPath(),
       });
@@ -373,6 +374,52 @@ test('client should receive list roots request', async ({ serverEndpoint, server
   expect(await rootsListedPromise).toBe('success');
 });
 
+test('should close session when heartbeat ping is not answered', async ({ serverEndpoint, server }) => {
+  const { url, stderr } = await serverEndpoint({ env: { PLAYWRIGHT_MCP_PING_TIMEOUT_MS: '500' } });
+
+  const transport = new StreamableHTTPClientTransport(new URL('/mcp', url));
+  const client = new Client({ name: 'test', version: '1.0.0' });
+  // Never answer server-initiated pings, simulating an unresponsive client/proxy.
+  client.setRequestHandler(PingRequestSchema, () => new Promise(() => {}));
+  await client.connect(transport);
+
+  // The first tool call initializes the backend and starts the heartbeat. The session
+  // may be reaped mid-call, so don't depend on the call resolving.
+  void client.callTool({
+    name: 'browser_navigate',
+    arguments: { url: server.HELLO_WORLD },
+  }).catch(() => {});
+
+  await expect.poll(() => formatLog(stderr())['delete http session']).toBe(1);
+});
+
+test('should not run heartbeat when timeout is non-positive', async ({ serverEndpoint, server }) => {
+  const { url, stderr } = await serverEndpoint({ env: { PLAYWRIGHT_MCP_PING_TIMEOUT_MS: '0' } });
+
+  const transport = new StreamableHTTPClientTransport(new URL('/mcp', url));
+  const client = new Client({ name: 'test', version: '1.0.0' });
+  // Never answer server-initiated pings; with the heartbeat disabled this must not reap the session.
+  client.setRequestHandler(PingRequestSchema, () => new Promise(() => {}));
+  await client.connect(transport);
+  await client.callTool({
+    name: 'browser_navigate',
+    arguments: { url: server.HELLO_WORLD },
+  });
+
+  // Give a disabled heartbeat ample time to (not) fire.
+  await new Promise(f => setTimeout(f, 1000));
+
+  // The session is still alive and usable.
+  await client.callTool({
+    name: 'browser_navigate',
+    arguments: { url: server.HELLO_WORLD },
+  });
+  expect(formatLog(stderr())['delete http session']).toBeUndefined();
+
+  await transport.terminateSession();
+  await client.close();
+});
+
 test('should not allow rebinding to localhost', async ({ serverEndpoint }) => {
   const { url } = await serverEndpoint();
   const ip = await resolveToIp('localhost');