diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 68e0dc9..7112ca7 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -90,6 +90,10 @@
     AS_IF([test "x$SOFTOFF_OBJPATH" == "x"],
           [SOFTOFF_OBJPATH="/xyz/openbmc_project/ipmi/internal/softpoweroff"])
     [AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([SOFTOFF_OBJPATH], ["$SOFTOFF_OBJPATH"], [The SoftPowerOff Dbus root])]
+
+    # Timeouts in SECONDS for SoftPowerOff protocol
+    [AC_ARG_VAR(IPMI_SMS_ATN_ACK_TIMEOUT_SECS, [Initial timeout for host to ack SMS_ATN from BMC])]
+    [AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([IPMI_SMS_ATN_ACK_TIMEOUT_SECS], [3], [Initial timeout for host to ack SMS_ATN from BMC])]
 )
 
 # Create configured output