diff --git a/bin/weewx/engine.py b/bin/weewx/engine.py
index 73a7513d..1b9fb9cf 100644
--- a/bin/weewx/engine.py
+++ b/bin/weewx/engine.py
@@ -476,6 +476,9 @@ class StdArchive(StdService):
         if self.archive_delay <= 0:
             raise weewx.ViolatedPrecondition("Archive delay (%.1f) must be greater than zero." % 
                                              (self.archive_delay,))
+        if self.archive_delay >= self.archive_interval / 2:
+            syslog.syslog(syslog.LOG_WARNING, "engine: Archive delay (%d) is unusually long" % 
+                          (self.archive_delay,))
 
         syslog.syslog(syslog.LOG_DEBUG, "engine: Use LOOP data in hi/low calculations: %d" % 
                       (self.loop_hilo,))
diff --git a/weewx.conf b/weewx.conf
index 071c5086..616016b9 100644
--- a/weewx.conf
+++ b/weewx.conf
@@ -281,10 +281,6 @@ version = 3.6.1
     # will be downloaded from the station. Otherwise, specify it (in seconds).
     archive_interval = 300
     
-    # How long to wait (in seconds) before processing new archive data. Must
-    # be greater than zero.
-    archive_delay = 15
-    
     # If possible, new archive records are downloaded from the station
     # hardware. If the hardware does not support this, then new archive
     # records will be generated in software.