diff --git a/tools/harness-thci/OpenThread_BR.py b/tools/harness-thci/OpenThread_BR.py
index 160d57616..34fba1a2e 100644
--- a/tools/harness-thci/OpenThread_BR.py
+++ b/tools/harness-thci/OpenThread_BR.py
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ logging.getLogger('paramiko').setLevel(logging.WARNING)
 
 
 class SSHHandle(object):
+    # Unit: second
+    KEEPALIVE_INTERVAL = 30
 
     def __init__(self, ip, port, username, password):
         self.ip = ip
@@ -85,6 +87,9 @@ class SSHHandle(object):
             else:
                 raise
 
+        # Avoid SSH disconnection after idle for a long time
+        self.__handle.get_transport().set_keepalive(self.KEEPALIVE_INTERVAL)
+
     def close(self):
         if self.__handle is not None:
             self.__handle.close()