diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 16c39df..1b8701e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
     - Your `api_secret` is the private key (RSA) you generate
   - Learn more [here](https://www.bybit.com/en-US/help-center/bybitHC_Article?id=000001923&language=en_US)
   - See examples files: [HTTP](https://github.com/bybit-exchange/pybit/blob/master/examples/http_example_rsa_authentication.py) and [WebSocket](https://github.com/bybit-exchange/pybit/blob/master/examples/websocket_example_rsa_authentication.py)
+- Add optional `private_auth_expire` arg for WebSocket (https://github.com/bybit-exchange/pybit/pull/154)
 
 ## [5.5.0] - 2023-07-17
 ### Added
diff --git a/pybit/_http_manager.py b/pybit/_http_manager.py
index d08680b..95400cb 100644
--- a/pybit/_http_manager.py
+++ b/pybit/_http_manager.py
@@ -42,11 +42,11 @@ class _V5HTTPManager:
     recv_window: bool = field(default=5000)
     force_retry: bool = field(default=False)
     retry_codes: defaultdict[dict] = field(
-        default_factory=lambda: {},
+        default_factory=dict,
         init=False,
     )
     ignore_codes: dict = field(
-        default_factory=lambda: {},
+        default_factory=dict,
         init=False,
     )
     max_retries: bool = field(default=3)
diff --git a/pybit/_websocket_stream.py b/pybit/_websocket_stream.py
index ae324b5..a119819 100644
--- a/pybit/_websocket_stream.py
+++ b/pybit/_websocket_stream.py
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ def __init__(
         retries=10,
         restart_on_error=True,
         trace_logging=False,
+        private_auth_expire=1
     ):
         self.testnet = testnet
         self.domain = domain
@@ -50,6 +51,9 @@ def __init__(
         self.ws_name = ws_name
         if api_key:
             self.ws_name += " (Auth)"
+        
+        # Delta time for private auth expiration in seconds
+        self.private_auth_expire = private_auth_expire
 
         # Setup the callback directory following the format:
         #   {
@@ -202,7 +206,7 @@ def generate_rsa():
             return base64.b64encode(signature).decode()
 
         # Generate expires.
-        expires = _helpers.generate_timestamp() + 1000
+        expires = _helpers.generate_timestamp() + (self.private_auth_expire * 1000)
 
         # Generate signature.
         _val = f"GET/realtime{expires}"
diff --git a/tests/test_pybit.py b/tests/test_pybit.py
index c16de51..67159d1 100644
--- a/tests/test_pybit.py
+++ b/tests/test_pybit.py
@@ -80,3 +80,21 @@ def test_topic_category_mismatch(self):
             )
 
             ws.order_stream(callback=self._callback_function)
+            
+class PrivateWebSocketTest(unittest.TestCase):
+    # Connect to private websocket and see if we can auth.
+    def _callback_function(msg):
+        print(msg)
+    
+    def test_private_websocket_connect(self):
+        ws_private = WebSocket(
+            testnet=True,
+            channel_type="private",
+            api_key="...",
+            api_secret="...",
+            trace_logging=True,
+            #private_auth_expire=10
+        )
+        
+        ws_private.position_stream(callback=self._callback_function)
+        #time.sleep(10)