diff --git a/pkg/config/config.go b/pkg/config/config.go
index a9f61aad4..876e74773 100644
--- a/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -375,9 +375,9 @@ func NewConfig(confString string, strictMode bool, c *cli.Context, baseFlags []c
 		},
 		SignalRelay: SignalRelayConfig{
 			Enabled:          false,
-			RetryTimeout:     30 * time.Second,
+			RetryTimeout:     7500 * time.Millisecond,
 			MinRetryInterval: 500 * time.Millisecond,
-			MaxRetryInterval: 5 * time.Second,
+			MaxRetryInterval: 4 * time.Second,
 			StreamBufferSize: 1000,
 		},
 		Keys: map[string]string{},
diff --git a/pkg/routing/signal.go b/pkg/routing/signal.go
index 56aa25005..af8392e48 100644
--- a/pkg/routing/signal.go
+++ b/pkg/routing/signal.go
@@ -255,7 +255,22 @@ func (s *signalMessageSink[SendType, RecvType]) Close() {
 	}
 	s.mu.Unlock()
 
-	<-s.Stream.Context().Done()
+	// NOTE: not waiting for stream context to be done.
+	// Waiting for stream context to be done is confirmation
+	// that the close message has been processed by the other side.
+	// In ideal conditions, waiting for it is a clean end.
+	//
+	// But, in cases where the remote side goes away abruptly, waiting
+	// for stream context to be done could block connection progress
+	// till the timeout hits.
+	//
+	// The abrupt case happens when one side of the signal
+	// relay is shut down due to scale down or a crash.
+	//
+	// Uncomment the following line to wait for close acknowledgement,
+	// but the system should be able to wait long enough (till timeout)
+	// without adverse impact if waiting for close acknowledgement.
+	//<-s.Stream.Context().Done()
 }
 
 func (s *signalMessageSink[SendType, RecvType]) IsClosed() bool {