diff --git a/conduwuit-example.toml b/conduwuit-example.toml
index 560999069..a710a9b9c 100644
--- a/conduwuit-example.toml
+++ b/conduwuit-example.toml
@@ -544,9 +544,28 @@
 #
 #sender_idle_timeout = 180
 
-# Federation sender transaction retry backoff limit (seconds).
+# Federation sender retry backoff base (seconds).
 #
-#sender_retry_backoff_limit = 86400
+# This period will be doubled for each failed federation request until
+# either the remote server becomes healthy, or the value is clamped to
+# `sender_retry_backoff_limit`.
+#
+#sender_retry_backoff_base = 60
+
+# Federation sender retry backoff limit (seconds).
+#
+# Defaults to one week. Requests will never stop being retried if their
+# backoff period exceeds this value, however the maximum amount of time
+# between each request will instead be clamped at this value.
+#
+# The backoff period is reset if a successful request is made, or
+# continuwuity receives a request from the server that is being backed off
+# from.
+#
+# It is not recommended to lower this value below 48 hours or above
+# 1 year.
+#
+#sender_retry_backoff_limit = 806400
 
 # Appservice URL request connection timeout. Defaults to 35 seconds as
 # generally appservices are hosted within the same network.
diff --git a/src/core/config/mod.rs b/src/core/config/mod.rs
index f1e4d323c..07ae7d9f2 100644
--- a/src/core/config/mod.rs
+++ b/src/core/config/mod.rs
@@ -682,9 +682,30 @@ pub struct Config {
 	#[serde(default = "default_sender_idle_timeout")]
 	pub sender_idle_timeout: u64,
 
-	/// Federation sender transaction retry backoff limit (seconds).
+	/// Federation sender retry backoff base (seconds).
 	///
-	/// default: 86400
+	/// This period will be doubled for each failed federation request until
+	/// either the remote server becomes healthy, or the value is clamped to
+	/// `sender_retry_backoff_limit`.
+	///
+	/// default: 60
+	#[serde(default = "default_sender_retry_backoff_base")]
+	pub sender_retry_backoff_base: u64,
+
+	/// Federation sender retry backoff limit (seconds).
+	///
+	/// Defaults to one week. Requests will never stop being retried if their
+	/// backoff period exceeds this value, however the maximum amount of time
+	/// between each request will instead be clamped at this value.
+	///
+	/// The backoff period is reset if a successful request is made, or
+	/// continuwuity receives a request from the server that is being backed off
+	/// from.
+	///
+	/// It is not recommended to lower this value below 48 hours or above
+	/// 1 year.
+	///
+	/// default: 806400
 	#[serde(default = "default_sender_retry_backoff_limit")]
 	pub sender_retry_backoff_limit: u64,
 
@@ -2967,6 +2988,8 @@ fn default_sender_timeout() -> u64 { 180 }
 
 fn default_sender_idle_timeout() -> u64 { 180 }
 
+fn default_sender_retry_backoff_base() -> u64 { 60 }
+
 fn default_sender_retry_backoff_limit() -> u64 { 86400 }
 
 fn default_appservice_timeout() -> u64 { 35 }
diff --git a/src/service/federation/mod.rs b/src/service/federation/mod.rs
index c46d34a40..895e9f4a8 100644
--- a/src/service/federation/mod.rs
+++ b/src/service/federation/mod.rs
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ impl Service {
 			return;
 		}
 
-		let min = Duration::from_secs(self.services.server.config.sender_timeout);
+		let min = Duration::from_secs(self.services.server.config.sender_retry_backoff_base);
 		let max = Duration::from_secs(self.services.server.config.sender_retry_backoff_limit);
 
 		*retries = retries.saturating_add(1);
diff --git a/src/service/sending/sender.rs b/src/service/sending/sender.rs
index d64002e9c..6f285c24c 100644
--- a/src/service/sending/sender.rs
+++ b/src/service/sending/sender.rs
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ impl Service {
 			.entry(dest.clone())
 			.and_modify(|e| match e {
 				| TransactionStatus::Failed(tries, time) => {
-					let min = Duration::from_secs(self.server.config.sender_timeout);
+					let min = Duration::from_secs(self.server.config.sender_retry_backoff_base);
 					let max = Duration::from_secs(self.server.config.sender_retry_backoff_limit);
 					if should_continue_backoff(min, max, time.elapsed(), *tries)
 						&& !matches!(dest, Destination::Appservice(_))