diff --git a/code/controllers/configuration.dm b/code/controllers/configuration.dm
index 7125eeec282..b93333c7372 100644
--- a/code/controllers/configuration.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/configuration.dm
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@
 	var/assistantratio = 2 //how many assistants to security members
 
 	var/traitor_objectives_amount = 2
+	var/shadowling_max_age = 1800
 
 	var/max_maint_drones = 5				//This many drones can spawn,
 	var/allow_drone_spawn = 1				//assuming the admin allow them to.
@@ -260,6 +261,9 @@
 				if("jobs_have_minimal_access")
 					config.jobs_have_minimal_access = 1
 
+				if("shadowling_max_age")
+					config.shadowling_max_age = text2num(value)
+
 				if("log_ooc")
 					config.log_ooc = 1
 
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/shadowling/shadowling.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/shadowling/shadowling.dm
index f5fc513744a..2e0b8a19343 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/shadowling/shadowling.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/shadowling/shadowling.dm
@@ -205,6 +205,13 @@ Made by Xhuis
 			continue
 		if(shadow.current.stat == DEAD)
 			continue
+		if(world.time - round_start_time > (config.shadowling_max_age * 10))
+			if(ishuman(shadow.current))
+				var/mob/living/carbon/human/H = shadow.current
+				if(!istype(H.species, /datum/species/shadow))
+					H.take_overall_damage(1, 0)
+					to_chat(H, "<span class='userdanger'>You cannot contain your shadowling essense any longer! You must hatch, or die!</span>")
+					H << 'sound/weapons/sear.ogg'
 		shadows_alive++
 	if(shadows_alive)
 		return ..()
diff --git a/config/example/config.txt b/config/example/config.txt
index d575635baeb..d2f227d6e6d 100644
--- a/config/example/config.txt
+++ b/config/example/config.txt
@@ -95,6 +95,9 @@ PROBABILITY EXTENDED 2
 PROBABILITY NUCLEAR 3
 PROBABILITY ABDUCTION 0
 
+# MAXIMUM SECONDS SHADOWLINGS CAN REMAIN UNHATCHED BEFORE THEY TAKE DAMAGE
+SHADOWLING_MAX_AGE 1800
+
 ## Hash out to disable random events during the round.
 ALLOW_RANDOM_EVENTS