diff --git a/backend/open_webui/env.py b/backend/open_webui/env.py
index 3d3ab02c51..17e27b25ac 100644
--- a/backend/open_webui/env.py
+++ b/backend/open_webui/env.py
@@ -353,12 +353,11 @@ DATABASE_SQLITE_PRAGMA_MMAP_SIZE = os.getenv('DATABASE_SQLITE_PRAGMA_MMAP_SIZE',
 # truncated.  67108864 ≈ 64 MB.  Set to -1 for no limit (SQLite default).
 DATABASE_SQLITE_PRAGMA_JOURNAL_SIZE_LIMIT = os.getenv('DATABASE_SQLITE_PRAGMA_JOURNAL_SIZE_LIMIT', '67108864')
 
-DATABASE_USER_ACTIVE_STATUS_UPDATE_INTERVAL = os.getenv('DATABASE_USER_ACTIVE_STATUS_UPDATE_INTERVAL', None)
-if DATABASE_USER_ACTIVE_STATUS_UPDATE_INTERVAL is not None:
-    try:
-        DATABASE_USER_ACTIVE_STATUS_UPDATE_INTERVAL = float(DATABASE_USER_ACTIVE_STATUS_UPDATE_INTERVAL)
-    except Exception:
-        DATABASE_USER_ACTIVE_STATUS_UPDATE_INTERVAL = 0.0
+# Seconds between presence writes per user per worker; keep under the 180s active-user window. 0 disables.
+try:
+    DATABASE_USER_ACTIVE_STATUS_UPDATE_INTERVAL = float(os.getenv('DATABASE_USER_ACTIVE_STATUS_UPDATE_INTERVAL', '60'))
+except ValueError:
+    DATABASE_USER_ACTIVE_STATUS_UPDATE_INTERVAL = 60.0
 
 DATABASE_ENABLE_SESSION_SHARING = os.getenv('DATABASE_ENABLE_SESSION_SHARING', 'False').lower() == 'true'
 ENABLE_PUBLIC_ACTIVE_USERS_COUNT = os.getenv('ENABLE_PUBLIC_ACTIVE_USERS_COUNT', 'True').lower() == 'true'
diff --git a/backend/open_webui/utils/misc.py b/backend/open_webui/utils/misc.py
index 41764dbebb..f8d0f3cd66 100644
--- a/backend/open_webui/utils/misc.py
+++ b/backend/open_webui/utils/misc.py
@@ -1109,16 +1109,17 @@ def throttle(interval: float = 10.0):
     different types, the return type of the function should be T | None.
 
     :param interval: Duration in seconds to wait before allowing the function to be called again.
+                     Zero or negative disables throttling.
     """
 
     def decorator(func):
+        if interval <= 0:
+            return func
+
         last_calls = {}
         lock = threading.Lock()
 
         async def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
-            if interval is None:
-                return await func(*args, **kwargs)
-
             key = (args, freeze(kwargs))
             now = time.time()
             if now - last_calls.get(key, 0) < interval: