diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7b7d74d..ede1fb2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -26,9 +26,19 @@ connect. There are several parameters that are required.
   name of the function and any arguments needed to be passed to that
   function. There is an example below.
 
+episcina also has two optional parameters:
+
+* `max_restarts`: the number of restarts that are allowed
+  to occur within `max_seconds_between_restarts` seconds. (Default: 1000)
+* `max_seconds_between_restarts`: If more than `max_restarts` restarts
+  occur within `max_seconds_between_restarts` seconds, the episcina supervisor
+  will terminate all its child processes, then itself. (Default: 3600)
+
 #### sys.config file example:
 
-    {episcina, [{pools, [{db1,
+{episcina, [{max_restarts, 2000},
+            {max_seconds_between_restarts, 7200},
+            {pools, [{db1,
                           [{size, 10},
                            {timeout, 10000},
                            {connect_provider, {pgsql, connect,
diff --git a/src/epna_sup.erl b/src/epna_sup.erl
index b0aa685..61b13cf 100644
--- a/src/epna_sup.erl
+++ b/src/epna_sup.erl
@@ -35,10 +35,11 @@ start_pool(Name, Size, Timeout, ConnectFun, CloseFun) ->
 %%@private
 init([]) ->
     RestartStrategy = simple_one_for_one,
-    MaxRestarts = 1000,
-    MaxSecondsBetweenRestarts = 3600,
 
-    SupFlags = {RestartStrategy, MaxRestarts, MaxSecondsBetweenRestarts},
+    MaxR = get_env(max_restarts, 1000),
+    MaxT = get_env(max_seconds_between_restarts, 3600),
+
+    SupFlags = {RestartStrategy, MaxR, MaxT},
 
     Restart = permanent,
     Shutdown = 2000,
@@ -52,3 +53,11 @@ init([]) ->
 %%%===================================================================
 %%% Internal functions
 %%%===================================================================
+
+get_env(Key, Default) ->
+    case application:get_env(episcina, Key) of
+        undefined ->
+            Default;
+        {ok, Value} ->
+            Value
+    end.