diff --git a/server/routes.go b/server/routes.go
index cd005fc25..0e57251d4 100644
--- a/server/routes.go
+++ b/server/routes.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"io/fs"
 	"log/slog"
+	"math"
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/netip"
@@ -309,32 +310,6 @@ func (s *Server) GenerateHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 	streamResponse(c, ch)
 }
 
-func getDefaultSessionDuration() time.Duration {
-	if envconfig.KeepAlive != "" {
-		v, err := strconv.Atoi(envconfig.KeepAlive)
-		if err != nil {
-			d, err := time.ParseDuration(envconfig.KeepAlive)
-			if err != nil {
-				return defaultSessionDuration
-			}
-
-			if d < 0 {
-				return time.Duration(math.MaxInt64)
-			}
-
-			return d
-		}
-
-		d := time.Duration(v) * time.Second
-		if d < 0 {
-			return time.Duration(math.MaxInt64)
-		}
-		return d
-	}
-
-	return defaultSessionDuration
-}
-
 func (s *Server) EmbedHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 	var req api.EmbedRequest
 	err := c.ShouldBindJSON(&req)
@@ -374,13 +349,6 @@ func (s *Server) EmbedHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	var sessionDuration time.Duration
-	if req.KeepAlive == nil {
-		sessionDuration = getDefaultSessionDuration()
-	} else {
-		sessionDuration = req.KeepAlive.Duration
-	}
-
 	switch reqEmbed := req.Input.(type) {
 	case string:
 		if reqEmbed == "" {
@@ -404,7 +372,7 @@ func (s *Server) EmbedHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	rCh, eCh := s.sched.GetRunner(c.Request.Context(), model, opts, sessionDuration)
+	rCh, eCh := s.sched.GetRunner(c.Request.Context(), model, opts, req.KeepAlive)
 	var runner *runnerRef
 	select {
 	case runner = <-rCh: