diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/almanach_init_time_settings-1ef46f6b9d4fc1df.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/almanach_init_time_settings-1ef46f6b9d4fc1df.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ff680a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/almanach_init_time_settings-1ef46f6b9d4fc1df.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+---
+features:
+  - For the ``os_almanach`` role, the systemd unit ``TimeoutSec`` value which
+    controls the time between sending a SIGTERM signal and a SIGKILL signal
+    when stopping or restarting the service has been reduced from 300 seconds
+    to 120 seconds. This provides 2 minutes for long-lived sessions to drain
+    while preventing new ones from starting before a restart or a stop. The
+    ``RestartSec`` value which controls the time between the service stop and
+    start when restarting has been reduced from 150 seconds to 2 seconds to
+    make the restart happen faster. These values can be adjusted by using the
+    ``almanach_*_init_config_overrides`` variables which use the
+    ``config_template`` task to change template defaults.
+upgrade:
+  - For the ``os_almanach`` role, the systemd unit ``TimeoutSec`` value which
+    controls the time between sending a SIGTERM signal and a SIGKILL signal
+    when stopping or restarting the service has been reduced from 300 seconds
+    to 120 seconds. This provides 2 minutes for long-lived sessions to drain
+    while preventing new ones from starting before a restart or a stop. The
+    ``RestartSec`` value which controls the time between the service stop and
+    start when restarting has been reduced from 150 seconds to 2 seconds to
+    make the restart happen faster. These values can be adjusted by using the
+    ``almanach_*_init_config_overrides`` variables which use the
+    ``config_template`` task to change template defaults.
diff --git a/templates/almanach-systemd-init.j2 b/templates/almanach-systemd-init.j2
index 8eca59b..24ed015 100644
--- a/templates/almanach-systemd-init.j2
+++ b/templates/almanach-systemd-init.j2
@@ -13,9 +13,10 @@ Group={{ system_group }}
 
 ExecStart={{ almanach_app_dir }}/bin/{{ program_name }} --config-file={{ almanach_config_file }} --log-file={{ almanach_log_file }}
 
-TimeoutSec=300
+# Give a reasonable amount of time for the server to start up/shut down
+TimeoutSec=120
 Restart=on-failure
-RestartSec=150
+RestartSec=2
 
 # This creates a specific slice which all services will operate from
 #  The accounting options give us the ability to see resource usage through