diff --git a/awx/main/dispatch/__init__.py b/awx/main/dispatch/__init__.py
index d5349e02f53c..c0261e07aff4 100644
--- a/awx/main/dispatch/__init__.py
+++ b/awx/main/dispatch/__init__.py
@@ -93,6 +93,22 @@ def close(self):
         self.conn.close()
 
 
+def create_listener_connection():
+    conf = settings.DATABASES['default'].copy()
+    conf['OPTIONS'] = conf.get('OPTIONS', {}).copy()
+    # Modify the application name to distinguish from other connections the process might use
+    conf['OPTIONS']['application_name'] = get_application_name(settings.CLUSTER_HOST_ID, function='listener')
+
+    # Apply overrides specifically for the listener connection
+    for k, v in settings.LISTENER_DATABASES.get('default', {}).items():
+        conf[k] = v
+    for k, v in settings.LISTENER_DATABASES.get('default', {}).get('OPTIONS', {}).items():
+        conf['OPTIONS'][k] = v
+
+    connection_data = f"dbname={conf['NAME']} host={conf['HOST']} user={conf['USER']} password={conf['PASSWORD']} port={conf['PORT']}"
+    return psycopg.connect(connection_data, autocommit=True, **conf['OPTIONS'])
+
+
 @contextmanager
 def pg_bus_conn(new_connection=False, select_timeout=None):
     '''
@@ -106,12 +122,7 @@ def pg_bus_conn(new_connection=False, select_timeout=None):
     '''
 
     if new_connection:
-        conf = settings.DATABASES['default'].copy()
-        conf['OPTIONS'] = conf.get('OPTIONS', {}).copy()
-        # Modify the application name to distinguish from other connections the process might use
-        conf['OPTIONS']['application_name'] = get_application_name(settings.CLUSTER_HOST_ID, function='listener')
-        connection_data = f"dbname={conf['NAME']} host={conf['HOST']} user={conf['USER']} password={conf['PASSWORD']} port={conf['PORT']}"
-        conn = psycopg.connect(connection_data, autocommit=True, **conf['OPTIONS'])
+        conn = create_listener_connection()
     else:
         if pg_connection.connection is None:
             pg_connection.connect()
diff --git a/awx/main/dispatch/worker/base.py b/awx/main/dispatch/worker/base.py
index 2ff8752f0661..05b51b2930bc 100644
--- a/awx/main/dispatch/worker/base.py
+++ b/awx/main/dispatch/worker/base.py
@@ -214,7 +214,10 @@ def run_periodic_tasks(self):
                 # bypasses pg_notify for scheduled tasks
                 self.dispatch_task(body)
 
-        self.pg_is_down = False
+        if self.pg_is_down:
+            logger.info('Dispatcher listener connection established')
+            self.pg_is_down = False
+
         self.listen_start = time.time()
 
         return self.scheduler.time_until_next_run()
diff --git a/awx/settings/defaults.py b/awx/settings/defaults.py
index 1cd89590bcaf..ae3610633a4d 100644
--- a/awx/settings/defaults.py
+++ b/awx/settings/defaults.py
@@ -37,6 +37,18 @@
     }
 }
 
+# Special database overrides for dispatcher connections listening to pg_notify
+LISTENER_DATABASES = {
+    'default': {
+        'OPTIONS': {
+            'keepalives': 1,
+            'keepalives_idle': 5,
+            'keepalives_interval': 5,
+            'keepalives_count': 5,
+        },
+    }
+}
+
 # Whether or not the deployment is a K8S-based deployment
 # In K8S-based deployments, instances have zero capacity - all playbook
 # automation is intended to flow through defined Container Groups that