diff --git a/config/bridge.go b/config/bridge.go
index b3f89bf..ee3381f 100644
--- a/config/bridge.go
+++ b/config/bridge.go
@@ -37,10 +37,11 @@ type BridgeConfig struct {
 	MaxConnectionAttempts int  `yaml:"max_connection_attempts"`
 	ReportConnectionRetry bool `yaml:"report_connection_retry"`
 
-	InitialChatSync    int  `yaml:"initial_chat_sync_count"`
-	InitialHistoryFill int  `yaml:"initial_history_fill_count"`
-	RecoverChatSync    int  `yaml:"recovery_chat_sync_count"`
-	RecoverHistory     bool `yaml:"recovery_history_backfill"`
+	InitialChatSync    int    `yaml:"initial_chat_sync_count"`
+	InitialHistoryFill int    `yaml:"initial_history_fill_count"`
+	RecoverChatSync    int    `yaml:"recovery_chat_sync_count"`
+	RecoverHistory     bool   `yaml:"recovery_history_backfill"`
+	SyncChatMaxAge     uint64 `yaml:"sync_max_chat_age"`
 
 	CommandPrefix string `yaml:"command_prefix"`
 
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ func (bc *BridgeConfig) setDefaults() {
 	bc.InitialHistoryFill = 20
 	bc.RecoverChatSync = -1
 	bc.RecoverHistory = true
+	bc.SyncChatMaxAge = 259200
 }
 
 type umBridgeConfig BridgeConfig
diff --git a/example-config.yaml b/example-config.yaml
index 4475485..4970bee 100644
--- a/example-config.yaml
+++ b/example-config.yaml
@@ -75,6 +75,11 @@ bridge:
     recovery_chat_sync_limit: -1
     # Whether or not to sync history when recovering from downtime.
     recovery_history_backfill: true
+    # Maximum number of seconds since last message in chat to skip
+    # syncing the chat in any case. This setting will take priority
+    # over both recovery_chat_sync_limit and initial_chat_sync_count.
+    # Default is 3 days = 259200 seconds
+    sync_max_chat_age: 259200
 
     # The prefix for commands. Only required in non-management rooms.
     command_prefix: "!wa"
diff --git a/user.go b/user.go
index d1131de..ff09156 100644
--- a/user.go
+++ b/user.go
@@ -312,7 +312,11 @@ func (user *User) syncPortals() {
 	if limit < 0 {
 		limit = len(chats)
 	}
+	now := uint64(time.Now().Unix())
 	for i, chat := range chats {
+		if chat.LastMessageTime + user.bridge.Config.Bridge.SyncChatMaxAge < now {
+			break
+		}
 		create := (chat.LastMessageTime >= user.LastConnection && user.LastConnection > 0) || i < limit
 		if len(chat.Portal.MXID) > 0 || create {
 			chat.Portal.Sync(user, chat.Contact)