diff --git a/common/ruletypes.h b/common/ruletypes.h
index 67a63c02d..31fb54fce 100644
--- a/common/ruletypes.h
+++ b/common/ruletypes.h
@@ -796,6 +796,7 @@ RULE_INT(Expedition, WorldExpeditionProcessRateMS, 6000, "Timer interval (ms) th
 RULE_BOOL(Expedition, AlwaysNotifyNewLeaderOnChange, false, "Always notify clients when made expedition leader. If false (live-like) new leaders are only notified when made leader via /dzmakeleader")
 RULE_REAL(Expedition, LockoutDurationMultiplier, 1.0, "Multiplies lockout duration by this value when new lockouts are added")
 RULE_BOOL(Expedition, EnableInDynamicZoneStatus, false, "Enables the 'In Dynamic Zone' member status in expedition window. If false (live-like) players inside the dz will show as 'Online'")
+RULE_INT(Expedition, ChooseLeaderCooldownTime, 2000, "Cooldown time (ms) between choosing a new leader for automatic leader changes")
 RULE_CATEGORY_END()
 
 RULE_CATEGORY(DynamicZone)
diff --git a/world/expedition.cpp b/world/expedition.cpp
index b3b1dd682..c2562b5c2 100644
--- a/world/expedition.cpp
+++ b/world/expedition.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include "zonelist.h"
 #include "zoneserver.h"
 #include "../common/eqemu_logsys.h"
+#include "../common/rulesys.h"
 
 extern ClientList client_list;
 extern ZSList zoneserver_list;
@@ -38,7 +39,8 @@ Expedition::Expedition(uint32_t expedition_id, uint32_t dz_id, uint32_t dz_insta
 	m_dz_zone_id(dz_zone_id),
 	m_start_time(std::chrono::system_clock::from_time_t(start_time)),
 	m_duration(duration),
-	m_leader_id(leader_id)
+	m_leader_id(leader_id),
+	m_choose_leader_cooldown_timer{ static_cast<uint32_t>(RuleI(Expedition, ChooseLeaderCooldownTime)) }
 {
 	m_expire_time = m_start_time + m_duration;
 	m_warning_cooldown_timer.Enable();
@@ -67,7 +69,7 @@ void Expedition::RemoveMember(uint32_t character_id)
 		[&](uint32_t member_id) { return member_id == character_id; }
 	), m_member_ids.end());
 
-	if (!m_member_ids.empty() && character_id == m_leader_id)
+	if (character_id == m_leader_id)
 	{
 		ChooseNewLeader();
 	}
@@ -75,6 +77,12 @@ void Expedition::RemoveMember(uint32_t character_id)
 
 void Expedition::ChooseNewLeader()
 {
+	if (m_member_ids.empty() || !m_choose_leader_cooldown_timer.Check())
+	{
+		m_choose_leader_needed = true;
+		return;
+	}
+
 	// we don't track expedition member status in world so may choose a linkdead member
 	// this is fine since it will trigger another change when that member goes offline
 	auto it = std::find_if(m_member_ids.begin(), m_member_ids.end(), [&](uint32_t member_id) {
@@ -89,9 +97,9 @@ void Expedition::ChooseNewLeader()
 			[&](uint32_t member_id) { return (member_id != m_leader_id); });
 	}
 
-	if (it != m_member_ids.end())
+	if (it != m_member_ids.end() && SetNewLeader(*it))
 	{
-		SetNewLeader(*it);
+		m_choose_leader_needed = false;
 	}
 }
 
@@ -193,3 +201,11 @@ void Expedition::CheckExpireWarning()
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+void Expedition::CheckLeader()
+{
+	if (m_choose_leader_needed)
+	{
+		ChooseNewLeader();
+	}
+}
diff --git a/world/expedition.h b/world/expedition.h
index 0b5f04e78..d166419bb 100644
--- a/world/expedition.h
+++ b/world/expedition.h
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ public:
 	void RemoveMember(uint32_t character_id);
 	void RemoveAllMembers() { m_member_ids.clear(); }
 	void CheckExpireWarning();
+	void CheckLeader();
 	void ChooseNewLeader();
 	uint32_t GetID() const { return m_expedition_id; }
 	uint16_t GetInstanceID() const { return static_cast<uint16_t>(m_dz_instance_id); }
@@ -62,8 +63,10 @@ private:
 	uint32_t m_dz_instance_id = 0;
 	uint32_t m_dz_zone_id     = 0;
 	uint32_t m_leader_id      = 0;
-	bool     m_pending_delete = false;
-	Timer    m_warning_cooldown_timer;
+	bool m_pending_delete = false;
+	bool m_choose_leader_needed = false;
+	Timer m_choose_leader_cooldown_timer;
+	Timer m_warning_cooldown_timer;
 	std::vector<uint32_t> m_member_ids;
 	std::chrono::seconds m_duration;
 	std::chrono::time_point<std::chrono::system_clock> m_start_time;
diff --git a/world/expedition_state.cpp b/world/expedition_state.cpp
index 332231f1b..794cfeb36 100644
--- a/world/expedition_state.cpp
+++ b/world/expedition_state.cpp
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ void ExpeditionState::Process()
 		else
 		{
 			it->CheckExpireWarning();
+			it->CheckLeader();
 		}
 
 		it = is_deleted ? m_expeditions.erase(it) : it + 1;