diff --git a/examples/common/scripts/vttablet-up.sh b/examples/common/scripts/vttablet-up.sh
index 764b7c1f426..daa40aee894 100755
--- a/examples/common/scripts/vttablet-up.sh
+++ b/examples/common/scripts/vttablet-up.sh
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ vttablet \
  --grpc_port $grpc_port \
  --service_map 'grpc-queryservice,grpc-tabletmanager,grpc-updatestream' \
  --pid_file $VTDATAROOT/$tablet_dir/vttablet.pid \
+ --heartbeat_on_demand_duration=5s \
  > $VTDATAROOT/$tablet_dir/vttablet.out 2>&1 &
 
 # Block waiting for the tablet to be listening