diff --git a/neutron/conf/agent/database/agents_db.py b/neutron/conf/agent/database/agents_db.py
index d2354a8dc14..cee104b9c44 100644
--- a/neutron/conf/agent/database/agents_db.py
+++ b/neutron/conf/agent/database/agents_db.py
@@ -16,7 +16,12 @@ from neutron._i18n import _
 from neutron.common import _constants
 
 AGENT_OPTS = [
+    # The agent_down_time value can only be a max of INT_MAX (as defined in C),
+    # where int is usually 32 bits. The agent_down_time will be passed to
+    # eventlet in milliseconds and any number higher will produce an OverFlow
+    # error. More details here: https://bugs.launchpad.net/neutron/+bug/2028724
     cfg.IntOpt('agent_down_time', default=75,
+               max=((2**32 / 2 - 1) // 1000),
                help=_("Seconds to regard the agent as down; should be at "
                       "least twice report_interval, to be sure the "
                       "agent is down for good.")),
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/agent_down_time_max-af3b62763aaa2fe5.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/agent_down_time_max-af3b62763aaa2fe5.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ec221e2e05a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/agent_down_time_max-af3b62763aaa2fe5.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    The config option ``agent_down_time`` is now limited to a maximum value of
+    `2147483`, as neutron-server will fail to start if it is configured higher.
+    See bug `2028724 <https://bugs.launchpad.net/neutron/+bug/2028724>`_ for more information.