diff --git a/cmd/erasure-sets.go b/cmd/erasure-sets.go
index 2552f67d7..22e8f1229 100644
--- a/cmd/erasure-sets.go
+++ b/cmd/erasure-sets.go
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ type erasureSets struct {
 	lastConnectDisksOpTime time.Time
 }
 
+var staleUploadsCleanupIntervalChangedCh = make(chan struct{})
+
 func (s *erasureSets) getDiskMap() map[Endpoint]StorageAPI {
 	diskMap := make(map[Endpoint]StorageAPI)
 
@@ -532,10 +534,11 @@ func (s *erasureSets) cleanupStaleUploads(ctx context.Context) {
 				}(set)
 			}
 			wg.Wait()
-
-			// Reset for the next interval
-			timer.Reset(globalAPIConfig.getStaleUploadsCleanupInterval())
+		case <-staleUploadsCleanupIntervalChangedCh:
 		}
+
+		// Reset for the next interval
+		timer.Reset(globalAPIConfig.getStaleUploadsCleanupInterval())
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/handler-api.go b/cmd/handler-api.go
index c0f1d6800..24f0d941c 100644
--- a/cmd/handler-api.go
+++ b/cmd/handler-api.go
@@ -183,13 +183,22 @@ func (t *apiConfig) init(cfg api.Config, setDriveCounts []int, legacy bool) {
 	t.transitionWorkers = cfg.TransitionWorkers
 
 	t.staleUploadsExpiry = cfg.StaleUploadsExpiry
-	t.staleUploadsCleanupInterval = cfg.StaleUploadsCleanupInterval
 	t.deleteCleanupInterval = cfg.DeleteCleanupInterval
 	t.enableODirect = cfg.EnableODirect
 	t.gzipObjects = cfg.GzipObjects
 	t.rootAccess = cfg.RootAccess
 	t.syncEvents = cfg.SyncEvents
 	t.objectMaxVersions = cfg.ObjectMaxVersions
+
+	if t.staleUploadsCleanupInterval != cfg.StaleUploadsCleanupInterval {
+		t.staleUploadsCleanupInterval = cfg.StaleUploadsCleanupInterval
+
+		// signal that cleanup interval has changed
+		select {
+		case staleUploadsCleanupIntervalChangedCh <- struct{}{}:
+		default: // in case the channel is blocked...
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 func (t *apiConfig) odirectEnabled() bool {