diff --git a/distributed/scheduler.py b/distributed/scheduler.py
index 4e769ad420c..735b8bd9555 100644
--- a/distributed/scheduler.py
+++ b/distributed/scheduler.py
@@ -1025,6 +1025,7 @@ def __init__(
             "missing-data": self.handle_missing_data,
             "long-running": self.handle_long_running,
             "reschedule": self.reschedule,
+            "keep-alive": lambda comm: None,
         }
 
         client_handlers = {
diff --git a/distributed/worker.py b/distributed/worker.py
index b32ab2e52a4..2c2c26b2339 100644
--- a/distributed/worker.py
+++ b/distributed/worker.py
@@ -792,6 +792,13 @@ async def _register_with_scheduler(self):
 
         self.batched_stream = BatchedSend(interval="2ms", loop=self.loop)
         self.batched_stream.start(comm)
+        pc = PeriodicCallback(
+            lambda: self.batched_stream.send({"op": "keep-alive"}),
+            60000,
+            io_loop=self.io_loop,
+        )
+        self.periodic_callbacks["keep-alive"] = pc
+        pc.start()
         self.periodic_callbacks["heartbeat"].start()
         self.loop.add_callback(self.handle_scheduler, comm)