diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index fae3473..cc13494 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 workspace = { members = ["spammer"] }
 [package]
 name = "netpong"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.1"
 edition = "2021"
 publish = true
 authors = ["Christoph J. Scherr <software@cscherr.de>"]
diff --git a/src/common/args.rs b/src/common/args.rs
index 3d161f8..64c8d2b 100644
--- a/src/common/args.rs
+++ b/src/common/args.rs
@@ -54,6 +54,10 @@ pub(crate) struct Cli {
     pub key: Option<PathBuf>,
     #[arg(short, long)]
     pub certs: Option<PathBuf>,
+
+    #[cfg(feature = "server")]
+    #[arg(short, long)]
+    pub indefinitely: bool,
 }
 
 impl Cli {
diff --git a/src/common/conf.rs b/src/common/conf.rs
index f80bd52..d39d49a 100644
--- a/src/common/conf.rs
+++ b/src/common/conf.rs
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ pub struct Config {
     #[cfg(feature = "server")]
     pub key: Option<PathBuf>,
     pub certs: Option<PathBuf>,
+    #[cfg(feature = "server")]
+    pub indefinitely: bool,
 }
 
 impl Config {
@@ -56,6 +58,7 @@ impl Config {
             #[cfg(feature = "server")]
             key: cli.key.clone(),
             certs: cli.certs.clone(),
+            indefinitely: cli.indefinitely,
         })
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/server/mod.rs b/src/server/mod.rs
index 842ab5a..007a95a 100644
--- a/src/server/mod.rs
+++ b/src/server/mod.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ use std::{
     net::SocketAddr,
     sync::{atomic::AtomicUsize, Arc},
     time::Duration,
+    usize,
 };
 
 use libpt::log::{debug, error, info, trace, warn};
@@ -158,14 +159,16 @@ impl Server {
         addr: SocketAddr,
     ) -> Result<()> {
         let mut buf = [0; BUF_SIZE];
-        let mut pings = 0;
+        let mut pings: usize = 0;
         debug!("new peer: {:?}", addr);
         while stream.read(&mut buf).await? > 0 {
             let request = decode(&buf)?;
             debug!(pings, "< ({})\n\"{}\"", addr, request);
-            if request == format!("ping") {
-                pings += 1;
-                if pings > self.cfg.win_after {
+            if request == "ping" {
+                pings = pings.saturating_add(1);
+                if (pings > self.cfg.win_after && !self.cfg.indefinitely)
+                    || (pings > usize::MAX - 1)
+                {
                     stream.write_all(b"You win!").await?;
                     debug!(pings, "> ({})\n\"{}\"", addr, "You win!");
                     info!("{} won!", addr);
@@ -173,8 +176,9 @@ impl Server {
                     stream.shutdown().await?;
                     break;
                 }
-                stream.write_all(b"pong").await?;
-                debug!(pings, "> ({})\n\"{}\"", addr, "pong");
+                let response = format!("pong ({:x})", pings);
+                stream.write_all(response.as_bytes()).await?;
+                debug!(pings, "> ({})\n\"{}\"", addr, response);
             } else {
                 stream.write_all(b"what is the magic word?").await?;
                 debug!(pings, "> ({})\n\"{}\"", addr, "what is the magic word?");