diff --git a/openrtx/include/settings.h b/openrtx/include/settings.h
index 6be470f9..12529d88 100644
--- a/openrtx/include/settings.h
+++ b/openrtx/include/settings.h
@@ -23,15 +23,37 @@
 
 #include <hwconfig.h>
 
+typedef enum
+{
+    TIMER_OFF =  0,
+    TIMER_5S  =  1,
+    TIMER_10S =  2,
+    TIMER_15S =  3,
+    TIMER_20S =  4,
+    TIMER_25S =  5,
+    TIMER_30S =  6,
+    TIMER_1M  =  7,
+    TIMER_2M  =  8,
+    TIMER_3M  =  9,
+    TIMER_4M  = 10,
+    TIMER_5M  = 11,
+    TIMER_15M = 12,
+    TIMER_30M = 13,
+    TIMER_45M = 14,
+    TIMER_1H  = 15
+}
+display_timer_t;
+
 typedef struct
 {
-    uint8_t brightness;     // Display brightness
-    uint8_t contrast;       // Display contrast
-    uint8_t sqlLevel;       // Squelch level
-    uint8_t voxLevel;       // Vox level
-    int8_t utc_timezone;    // Timezone
-    bool gps_enabled;       // GPS active
-    char callsign[10];      // Plaintext callsign, for future use
+    uint8_t brightness;                  // Display brightness
+    uint8_t contrast;                    // Display contrast
+    uint8_t sqlLevel;                    // Squelch level
+    uint8_t voxLevel;                    // Vox level
+    int8_t utc_timezone;                 // Timezone
+    bool gps_enabled;                    // GPS active
+    char callsign[10];                   // Plaintext callsign, for future use
+    display_timer_t brightness_timer;    // Standby timer
 }
 __attribute__((packed)) settings_t;
 
@@ -48,7 +70,8 @@ static const settings_t default_settings =
     0,                // Vox level
     0,                // UTC Timezone
     false,            // GPS enabled
-    ""                // Empty callsign
+    "",               // Empty callsign
+    TIMER_30S         // 30 seconds
 };
 
 #endif /* SETTINGS_H */
diff --git a/openrtx/src/ui/ui.c b/openrtx/src/ui/ui.c
index 47b75587..eb85028f 100644
--- a/openrtx/src/ui/ui.c
+++ b/openrtx/src/ui/ui.c
@@ -225,7 +225,6 @@ bool macro_menu = false;
 bool layout_ready = false;
 bool redraw_needed = true;
 
-#define STANDBY_LIMIT 30000 // 30s - TODO: move into a setting
 bool standby = false;
 long long last_event_tick = 0;
 
@@ -645,6 +644,45 @@ void _ui_changeContrast(int variation)
     display_setContrast(state.settings.contrast);
 }
 
+bool _ui_checkStandby(long long time_since_last_event)
+{
+    if (standby)
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    switch (state.settings.brightness_timer)
+    {
+    case TIMER_OFF:
+        return false;
+    case TIMER_5S:
+    case TIMER_10S:
+    case TIMER_15S:
+    case TIMER_20S:
+    case TIMER_25S:
+    case TIMER_30S:
+        return time_since_last_event >=
+            (5000 * state.settings.brightness_timer);
+    case TIMER_1M:
+    case TIMER_2M:
+    case TIMER_3M:
+    case TIMER_4M:
+    case TIMER_5M:
+        return time_since_last_event >=
+            (60000 * (state.settings.brightness_timer - (TIMER_1M - 1)));
+    case TIMER_15M:
+    case TIMER_30M:
+    case TIMER_45M:
+        return time_since_last_event >=
+            (60000 * 15 * (state.settings.brightness_timer - (TIMER_15M - 1)));
+    case TIMER_1H:
+        return time_since_last_event >= 60 * 60 * 1000;
+    }
+
+    // unreachable code
+    return false;
+}
+
 void _ui_enterStandby()
 {
     if(standby)
@@ -1527,14 +1565,14 @@ void ui_updateFSM(event_t event, bool *sync_rtx)
     else if(event.type == EVENT_STATUS)
     {
         if (txOngoing || rtx_rxSquelchOpen())
-	{
-	    _ui_exitStandby(now);
-	    return;
-	}
-
-	if (!standby && (now - last_event_tick >= STANDBY_LIMIT))
         {
-	    _ui_enterStandby();
+            _ui_exitStandby(now);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (_ui_checkStandby(now - last_event_tick))
+        {
+            _ui_enterStandby();
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/unit/ui_check_standby.c b/tests/unit/ui_check_standby.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..12ac08c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/ui_check_standby.c
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <state.h>
+#include <settings.h>
+
+extern bool _ui_checkStandby(long long);
+extern state_t state;
+
+void assert_display_timer(display_timer_t conf,
+                          long long time_sec,
+                          bool expected)
+{
+    state.settings.brightness_timer = conf;
+
+    long long ticks = time_sec * 1000;
+
+    if (_ui_checkStandby(ticks) != expected)
+    {
+        printf("FAILED! enum value %d - time %lld sec - expected %d\n",
+               conf, time_sec, expected);
+        exit(1);
+    }
+}
+
+void test_timer_threshold(display_timer_t conf, long long time_sec)
+{
+    assert_display_timer(conf, time_sec -1, false);
+    assert_display_timer(conf, time_sec, true);
+}
+
+int main() {
+    printf("Backlight timer test\n");
+
+    test_timer_threshold(TIMER_5S, 5);
+    test_timer_threshold(TIMER_10S, 10);
+    test_timer_threshold(TIMER_15S, 15);
+    test_timer_threshold(TIMER_20S, 20);
+    test_timer_threshold(TIMER_25S, 25);
+    test_timer_threshold(TIMER_30S, 30);
+
+    test_timer_threshold(TIMER_1M, 1 * 60);
+    test_timer_threshold(TIMER_2M, 2 * 60);
+    test_timer_threshold(TIMER_3M, 3 * 60);
+    test_timer_threshold(TIMER_4M, 4 * 60);
+    test_timer_threshold(TIMER_5M, 5 * 60);
+
+
+    test_timer_threshold(TIMER_15M, 15 * 60);
+    test_timer_threshold(TIMER_30M, 30 * 60);
+    test_timer_threshold(TIMER_45M, 45 * 60);
+
+    test_timer_threshold(TIMER_1H, 60 * 60);
+
+    assert_display_timer(TIMER_OFF, 0, false);
+    assert_display_timer(TIMER_OFF, 60 * 60 * 24, false);
+
+    printf("PASS\n");
+
+    return 0;
+}