diff --git a/frigate/video/ffmpeg.py b/frigate/video/ffmpeg.py
index cc5b9a32b..3d8b18105 100644
--- a/frigate/video/ffmpeg.py
+++ b/frigate/video/ffmpeg.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from frigate.config.camera.updater import (
 )
 from frigate.const import PROCESS_PRIORITY_HIGH
 from frigate.log import LogPipe
-from frigate.util.builtin import EventsPerSecond
+from frigate.util.builtin import EventsPerSecond, get_ffmpeg_arg_list
 from frigate.util.ffmpeg import start_or_restart_ffmpeg, stop_ffmpeg
 from frigate.util.image import (
     FrameManager,
@@ -34,6 +34,23 @@ from frigate.util.process import FrigateProcess
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+# all built-in record presets use this segment_time
+DEFAULT_RECORD_SEGMENT_TIME = 10
+
+
+def _get_record_segment_time(config: CameraConfig) -> int:
+    """Extract -segment_time from the camera's record output args."""
+    record_args = get_ffmpeg_arg_list(config.ffmpeg.output_args.record)
+
+    if record_args and record_args[0].startswith("preset"):
+        return DEFAULT_RECORD_SEGMENT_TIME
+
+    try:
+        idx = record_args.index("-segment_time")
+        return int(record_args[idx + 1])
+    except (ValueError, IndexError):
+        return DEFAULT_RECORD_SEGMENT_TIME
+
 
 def capture_frames(
     ffmpeg_process: sp.Popen[Any],
@@ -164,6 +181,12 @@ class CameraWatchdog(threading.Thread):
         self.latest_cache_segment_time: float = 0
         self.record_enable_time: datetime | None = None
 
+        # `valid` segments are published with the segment's start time, so the
+        # gap between consecutive publishes can reach 2 * segment_time. Pad the
+        # staleness threshold so it's never tighter than that worst case.
+        segment_time = _get_record_segment_time(self.config)
+        self.record_stale_threshold = max(120, 2 * segment_time + 30)
+
         # Stall tracking (based on last processed frame)
         self._stall_timestamps: deque[float] = deque()
         self._stall_active: bool = False
@@ -413,16 +436,17 @@ class CameraWatchdog(threading.Thread):
 
                     # ensure segments are still being created and that they have valid video data
                     # Skip checks during grace period to allow segments to start being created
+                    stale_window = timedelta(seconds=self.record_stale_threshold)
                     cache_stale = not in_grace_period and now_utc > (
-                        latest_cache_dt + timedelta(seconds=120)
+                        latest_cache_dt + stale_window
                     )
                     valid_stale = not in_grace_period and now_utc > (
-                        latest_valid_dt + timedelta(seconds=120)
+                        latest_valid_dt + stale_window
                     )
                     invalid_stale_condition = (
                         self.latest_invalid_segment_time > 0
                         and not in_grace_period
-                        and now_utc > (latest_invalid_dt + timedelta(seconds=120))
+                        and now_utc > (latest_invalid_dt + stale_window)
                         and self.latest_valid_segment_time
                         <= self.latest_invalid_segment_time
                     )
@@ -439,7 +463,7 @@ class CameraWatchdog(threading.Thread):
                             )
 
                         self.logger.error(
-                            f"{reason} for {self.config.name} in the last 120s. Restarting the ffmpeg record process..."
+                            f"{reason} for {self.config.name} in the last {self.record_stale_threshold}s. Restarting the ffmpeg record process..."
                         )
                         p["process"] = start_or_restart_ffmpeg(
                             p["cmd"],