diff --git a/src/ssl_api_ext.c b/src/ssl_api_ext.c
index 2e4a8952f1..367a0134f9 100644
--- a/src/ssl_api_ext.c
+++ b/src/ssl_api_ext.c
@@ -1055,6 +1055,8 @@ int wolfSSL_CTX_set_TicketEncCb(WOLFSSL_CTX* ctx, SessionTicketEncCb cb)
  *
  * @param [in] ctx   SSL/TLS context object.
  * @param [in] hint  Lifetime hint in seconds. No more than 604800 (7 days).
+ *                   With the default ticket encryption callback, must also be
+ *                   less than WOLFSSL_TICKET_KEY_LIFETIME / 2.
  * @return  WOLFSSL_SUCCESS on success.
  * @return  BAD_FUNC_ARG when ctx is NULL or hint is out of range.
  */
@@ -1068,6 +1070,15 @@ int wolfSSL_CTX_set_TicketHint(WOLFSSL_CTX* ctx, int hint)
     if (hint < 0 || hint > 604800)
         return BAD_FUNC_ARG;
 
+#ifdef WOLFSSL_TICKET_KEY_LIFETIME
+    /* The default ticket encryption callback rotates two keys, each living
+     * WOLFSSL_TICKET_KEY_LIFETIME seconds. Its staggered rotation can only
+     * honor a hint below half that; a larger hint would leave no key available
+     * for encryption. */
+    if (hint >= WOLFSSL_TICKET_KEY_LIFETIME / 2)
+        return BAD_FUNC_ARG;
+#endif
+
     ctx->ticketHint = hint;
 
     return WOLFSSL_SUCCESS;
diff --git a/tests/api/test_ssl_ext.c b/tests/api/test_ssl_ext.c
index 155cc09546..3dfe4f9f0b 100644
--- a/tests/api/test_ssl_ext.c
+++ b/tests/api/test_ssl_ext.c
@@ -188,7 +188,18 @@ int test_wolfSSL_CTX_set_TicketHint_ext(void)
     ExpectIntEQ(wolfSSL_CTX_set_TicketHint(ctx, 604801),
         WC_NO_ERR_TRACE(BAD_FUNC_ARG));
     ExpectIntEQ(wolfSSL_CTX_set_TicketHint(ctx, 0), WOLFSSL_SUCCESS);
+#ifdef WOLFSSL_TICKET_KEY_LIFETIME
+    /* The default ticket encryption callback can only honor a hint below half
+     * the ticket key lifetime; larger values are rejected. */
+    ExpectIntEQ(wolfSSL_CTX_set_TicketHint(ctx, WOLFSSL_TICKET_KEY_LIFETIME / 2),
+        WC_NO_ERR_TRACE(BAD_FUNC_ARG));
+    ExpectIntEQ(wolfSSL_CTX_set_TicketHint(ctx,
+        WOLFSSL_TICKET_KEY_LIFETIME / 2 - 1), WOLFSSL_SUCCESS);
+    ExpectIntEQ(wolfSSL_CTX_set_TicketHint(ctx, 604800),
+        WC_NO_ERR_TRACE(BAD_FUNC_ARG));
+#else
     ExpectIntEQ(wolfSSL_CTX_set_TicketHint(ctx, 604800), WOLFSSL_SUCCESS);
+#endif
 
     wolfSSL_CTX_free(ctx);
 #endif
diff --git a/wolfssl/internal.h b/wolfssl/internal.h
index 3cd37c739b..bf5441b6df 100644
--- a/wolfssl/internal.h
+++ b/wolfssl/internal.h
@@ -2047,8 +2047,8 @@ WOLFSSL_LOCAL int NamedGroupIsPqcHybrid(int group);
         /* Default lifetime is 1 hour from issue of first ticket with key. */
         #define WOLFSSL_TICKET_KEY_LIFETIME       (60 * 60)
     #endif
-    #if WOLFSSL_TICKET_KEY_LIFETIME <= SESSION_TICKET_HINT_DEFAULT
-        #error "Ticket Key lifetime must be longer than ticket life hint."
+    #if WOLFSSL_TICKET_KEY_LIFETIME <= 2 * SESSION_TICKET_HINT_DEFAULT
+        #error "Ticket Key lifetime must be more than twice the ticket life hint."
     #endif
 #endif