diff --git a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_keepalive.erl b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_keepalive.erl
index 7ec424d1d..9768ff876 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_keepalive.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_keepalive.erl
@@ -74,7 +74,18 @@ check(NewVal, KeepAlive = #keepalive{statval = OldVal,
         true -> {error, timeout}
     end.
 
+%% from mqtt-v3.1.1 specific
+%% A Keep Alive value of zero (0) has the effect of turning off the keep alive mechanism.
+%% This means that, in this case, the Server is not required
+%% to disconnect the Client on the grounds of inactivity.
+%% Note that a Server is permitted to disconnect a Client that it determines
+%% to be inactive or non-responsive at any time,
+%% regardless of the Keep Alive value provided by that Client.
+%%  Non normative comment
+%%The actual value of the Keep Alive is application specific;
+%% typically this is a few minutes.
+%% The maximum value is (65535s) 18 hours 12 minutes and 15 seconds.
 %% @doc Update keepalive's interval
 -spec(set(interval, non_neg_integer(), keepalive()) -> keepalive()).
-set(interval, Interval, KeepAlive) ->
+set(interval, Interval, KeepAlive) when Interval >= 0 andalso Interval =< 65535000 ->
     KeepAlive#keepalive{interval = Interval}.
diff --git a/apps/emqx_management/src/emqx_mgmt.erl b/apps/emqx_management/src/emqx_mgmt.erl
index d45b5ad77..826a2135f 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_management/src/emqx_mgmt.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_management/src/emqx_mgmt.erl
@@ -336,8 +336,10 @@ set_ratelimit_policy(ClientId, Policy) ->
 set_quota_policy(ClientId, Policy) ->
     call_client(ClientId, {quota, Policy}).
 
-set_keepalive(ClientId, Interval) ->
-    call_client(ClientId, {keepalive, Interval}).
+set_keepalive(ClientId, Interval)when Interval >= 0 andalso Interval =< 65535 ->
+    call_client(ClientId, {keepalive, Interval});
+set_keepalive(_ClientId, _Interval) ->
+    {error, <<"mqtt3.1.1 specification: keepalive must between 0~65535">>}.
 
 %% @private
 call_client(ClientId, Req) ->
diff --git a/apps/emqx_management/src/emqx_mgmt_api_clients.erl b/apps/emqx_management/src/emqx_mgmt_api_clients.erl
index ff429a9a6..e10902752 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_management/src/emqx_mgmt_api_clients.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_management/src/emqx_mgmt_api_clients.erl
@@ -457,6 +457,7 @@ keepalive_api() ->
                 ],
             responses => #{
                 <<"404">> => emqx_mgmt_util:error_schema(<<"Client id not found">>),
+                <<"400">> => emqx_mgmt_util:error_schema(<<"">>, 'PARAMS_ERROR'),
                 <<"200">> => emqx_mgmt_util:schema(<<"ok">>)}}},
     {"/clients/:clientid/keepalive", Metadata, set_keepalive}.
 %%%==============================================================================================
@@ -509,7 +510,8 @@ set_keepalive(put, #{bindings := #{clientid := ClientID}, query_string := Query}
             Interval = binary_to_integer(Interval0),
             case emqx_mgmt:set_keepalive(emqx_mgmt_util:urldecode(ClientID), Interval) of
                 ok -> {200};
-                {error, not_found} ->{404, ?CLIENT_ID_NOT_FOUND}
+                {error, not_found} ->{404, ?CLIENT_ID_NOT_FOUND};
+                {error, Reason} -> {400, #{code => 'PARAMS_ERROR', message => Reason}}
             end
     end.