diff --git a/firewall.go b/firewall.go
index 5fb2d6de..3a3d31a2 100644
--- a/firewall.go
+++ b/firewall.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/gaissmai/bart"
@@ -28,16 +29,23 @@ type FirewallInterface interface {
 	AddRule(incoming bool, proto uint8, startPort int32, endPort int32, groups []string, host string, cidr, localCidr string, caName string, caSha string) error
 }
 
+// conn is a conntrack entry. Only expires changes after it is stored, a rules version change
+// stores a replacement entry instead.
 type conn struct {
-	Expires time.Time // Time when this conntrack entry will expire
+	expires atomic.Uint32 // conntrack clock second when this entry expires, see FirewallConntrack.now
 
 	// record why the original connection passed the firewall, so we can re-validate
-	// after ruleset changes. Note, rulesVersion is a uint16 so that these two
-	// fields pack for free after the uint32 above
+	// after ruleset changes
 	incoming     bool
 	rulesVersion uint16
 }
 
+func newConn(expires uint32, incoming bool, rulesVersion uint16) *conn {
+	c := &conn{incoming: incoming, rulesVersion: rulesVersion}
+	c.expires.Store(expires)
+	return c
+}
+
 // TODO: need conntrack max tracked connections handling
 type Firewall struct {
 	Conntrack *FirewallConntrack
@@ -79,11 +87,69 @@ type firewallMetrics struct {
 	droppedNoRule     metrics.Counter
 }
 
+// FirewallConntrack is safe for concurrent use by every routine without a lock.
 type FirewallConntrack struct {
-	sync.Mutex
+	conns sync.Map      // firewall.Packet -> *conn
+	count atomic.Int64  // entries in conns, which sync.Map can't tell us
+	now   atomic.Uint32 // the conntrack clock: whole seconds since epoch, kept current by Run
+	epoch time.Time
+}
 
-	Conns      map[firewall.Packet]*conn
-	TimerWheel *TimerWheel[firewall.Packet]
+func newFirewallConntrack() *FirewallConntrack {
+	return &FirewallConntrack{epoch: time.Now()}
+}
+
+// Run advances the conntrack clock every second and sweeps out expired entries every minute,
+// until ctx is done. Reading a shared clock is much cheaper than asking the OS on every packet.
+func (ct *FirewallConntrack) Run(ctx context.Context) {
+	t := time.NewTicker(time.Second)
+	defer t.Stop()
+	var nextSweep uint32
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return
+		case <-t.C:
+			// Measured from epoch rather than counted, so a late tick can't slow the clock down
+			now := uint32(time.Since(ct.epoch) / time.Second)
+			ct.now.Store(now)
+			if now >= nextSweep {
+				ct.sweep(now)
+				nextSweep = now + 60
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// sweep deletes entries that expired at or before now.
+func (ct *FirewallConntrack) sweep(now uint32) {
+	ct.conns.Range(func(k, v any) bool {
+		if v.(*conn).expires.Load() <= now {
+			ct.delete(k.(firewall.Packet), v.(*conn))
+		}
+		return true
+	})
+}
+
+func (ct *FirewallConntrack) store(fp firewall.Packet, c *conn) {
+	if _, replaced := ct.conns.Swap(fp, c); !replaced {
+		ct.count.Add(1)
+	}
+}
+
+// delete removes fp's entry if it is still c, so a newer entry stored by another routine survives
+func (ct *FirewallConntrack) delete(fp firewall.Packet, c *conn) {
+	if ct.conns.CompareAndDelete(fp, c) {
+		ct.count.Add(-1)
+	}
+}
+
+// clear deletes every entry
+func (ct *FirewallConntrack) clear() {
+	ct.conns.Range(func(k, v any) bool {
+		ct.delete(k.(firewall.Packet), v.(*conn))
+		return true
+	})
 }
 
 // FirewallTable is the entry point for a rule, the evaluation order is:
@@ -132,26 +198,10 @@ type firewallLocalCIDR struct {
 	LocalCIDR *bart.Lite
 }
 
-// NewFirewall creates a new Firewall object. A TimerWheel is created for you from the provided timeouts.
+// NewFirewall creates a new Firewall object.
 // The certificate provided should be the highest version loaded in memory.
 func NewFirewall(l *slog.Logger, tcpTimeout, UDPTimeout, defaultTimeout time.Duration, c cert.Certificate) *Firewall {
 	//TODO: error on 0 duration
-	var tmin, tmax time.Duration
-
-	if tcpTimeout < UDPTimeout {
-		tmin = tcpTimeout
-		tmax = UDPTimeout
-	} else {
-		tmin = UDPTimeout
-		tmax = tcpTimeout
-	}
-
-	if defaultTimeout < tmin {
-		tmin = defaultTimeout
-	} else if defaultTimeout > tmax {
-		tmax = defaultTimeout
-	}
-
 	routableNetworks := new(bart.Lite)
 	var assignedNetworks []netip.Prefix
 	for _, network := range c.Networks() {
@@ -166,10 +216,7 @@ func NewFirewall(l *slog.Logger, tcpTimeout, UDPTimeout, defaultTimeout time.Dur
 	}
 
 	return &Firewall{
-		Conntrack: &FirewallConntrack{
-			Conns:      make(map[firewall.Packet]*conn),
-			TimerWheel: NewTimerWheel[firewall.Packet](tmin, tmax),
-		},
+		Conntrack:        newFirewallConntrack(),
 		InRules:          newFirewallTable(),
 		OutRules:         newFirewallTable(),
 		TCPTimeout:       tcpTimeout,
@@ -423,7 +470,7 @@ var ErrNoMatchingRule = errors.New("no matching rule in firewall table")
 
 // Drop returns an error if the packet should be dropped, explaining why. It
 // returns nil if the packet should not be dropped.
-func (f *Firewall) Drop(fp firewall.Packet, incoming bool, h *HostInfo, caPool *cert.CAPool, localCache firewall.ConntrackCache) error {
+func (f *Firewall) Drop(fp firewall.Packet, incoming bool, h *HostInfo, caPool *cert.CAPool) error {
 	// Make sure remote address matches nebula certificate, and determine how to treat it
 	if h.networks == nil {
 		// Simple case: Certificate has one address and no unsafe networks
@@ -458,7 +505,7 @@ func (f *Firewall) Drop(fp firewall.Packet, incoming bool, h *HostInfo, caPool *
 	}
 
 	// Check if we spoke to this tuple, if we did then allow this packet
-	if f.inConns(fp, h, caPool, localCache) {
+	if f.inConns(fp, h, caPool) {
 		return nil
 	}
 
@@ -494,36 +541,19 @@ func (f *Firewall) Destroy() {
 }
 
 func (f *Firewall) EmitStats() {
-	conntrack := f.Conntrack
-	conntrack.Lock()
-	conntrackCount := len(conntrack.Conns)
-	conntrack.Unlock()
-	metrics.GetOrRegisterGauge("firewall.conntrack.count", nil).Update(int64(conntrackCount))
+	metrics.GetOrRegisterGauge("firewall.conntrack.count", nil).Update(f.Conntrack.count.Load())
 	metrics.GetOrRegisterGauge("firewall.rules.version", nil).Update(int64(f.rulesVersion))
 	metrics.GetOrRegisterGauge("firewall.rules.hash", nil).Update(int64(f.GetRuleHashFNV()))
 }
 
-func (f *Firewall) inConns(fp firewall.Packet, h *HostInfo, caPool *cert.CAPool, localCache firewall.ConntrackCache) bool {
-	if localCache != nil {
-		if _, ok := localCache[fp]; ok {
-			return true
-		}
-	}
+func (f *Firewall) inConns(fp firewall.Packet, h *HostInfo, caPool *cert.CAPool) bool {
 	conntrack := f.Conntrack
-	conntrack.Lock()
-
-	// Purge every time we test
-	ep, has := conntrack.TimerWheel.Purge()
-	if has {
-		f.evict(ep)
-	}
-
-	c, ok := conntrack.Conns[fp]
-
+	v, ok := conntrack.conns.Load(fp)
 	if !ok {
-		conntrack.Unlock()
 		return false
 	}
+	c := v.(*conn)
+	expires := conntrack.now.Load() + f.timeout(fp.Protocol)
 
 	if c.rulesVersion != f.rulesVersion {
 		// This conntrack entry was for an older rule set, validate
@@ -543,8 +573,7 @@ func (f *Firewall) inConns(fp firewall.Packet, h *HostInfo, caPool *cert.CAPool,
 					"oldRulesVersion", c.rulesVersion,
 				)
 			}
-			delete(conntrack.Conns, fp)
-			conntrack.Unlock()
+			conntrack.delete(fp, c)
 			return false
 		}
 
@@ -557,77 +586,35 @@ func (f *Firewall) inConns(fp firewall.Packet, h *HostInfo, caPool *cert.CAPool,
 			)
 		}
 
-		c.rulesVersion = f.rulesVersion
+		conntrack.store(fp, newConn(expires, c.incoming, f.rulesVersion))
+		return true
 	}
 
-	switch fp.Protocol {
-	case iputil.IPProtocolTCP:
-		c.Expires = time.Now().Add(f.TCPTimeout)
-	case iputil.IPProtocolUDP:
-		c.Expires = time.Now().Add(f.UDPTimeout)
-	default:
-		c.Expires = time.Now().Add(f.DefaultTimeout)
-	}
-
-	conntrack.Unlock()
-
-	if localCache != nil {
-		localCache[fp] = struct{}{}
+	// Most packets land in the same second as the one before, skip writing an unchanged expiry
+	if c.expires.Load() != expires {
+		c.expires.Store(expires)
 	}
 
 	return true
 }
 
 func (f *Firewall) addConn(fp firewall.Packet, incoming bool) {
-	var timeout time.Duration
-	c := &conn{}
-
-	switch fp.Protocol {
-	case iputil.IPProtocolTCP:
-		timeout = f.TCPTimeout
-	case iputil.IPProtocolUDP:
-		timeout = f.UDPTimeout
-	default:
-		timeout = f.DefaultTimeout
-	}
-
-	conntrack := f.Conntrack
-	conntrack.Lock()
-	if _, ok := conntrack.Conns[fp]; !ok {
-		conntrack.TimerWheel.Advance(time.Now())
-		conntrack.TimerWheel.Add(fp, timeout)
-	}
-
 	// Record which rulesVersion allowed this connection, so we can retest after
 	// firewall reload
-	c.incoming = incoming
-	c.rulesVersion = f.rulesVersion
-	c.Expires = time.Now().Add(timeout)
-	conntrack.Conns[fp] = c
-	conntrack.Unlock()
+	conntrack := f.Conntrack
+	conntrack.store(fp, newConn(conntrack.now.Load()+f.timeout(fp.Protocol), incoming, f.rulesVersion))
 }
 
-// Evict checks if a conntrack entry has expired, if so it is removed, if not it is re-added to the wheel
-// Caller must own the connMutex lock!
-func (f *Firewall) evict(p firewall.Packet) {
-	// Are we still tracking this conn?
-	conntrack := f.Conntrack
-	t, ok := conntrack.Conns[p]
-	if !ok {
-		return
+// timeout returns how many seconds a conntrack entry for proto lives past its last packet
+func (f *Firewall) timeout(proto uint8) uint32 {
+	switch proto {
+	case iputil.IPProtocolTCP:
+		return uint32(f.TCPTimeout / time.Second)
+	case iputil.IPProtocolUDP:
+		return uint32(f.UDPTimeout / time.Second)
+	default:
+		return uint32(f.DefaultTimeout / time.Second)
 	}
-
-	newT := t.Expires.Sub(time.Now())
-
-	// Timeout is in the future, re-add the timer
-	if newT > 0 {
-		conntrack.TimerWheel.Advance(time.Now())
-		conntrack.TimerWheel.Add(p, newT)
-		return
-	}
-
-	// This conn is done
-	delete(conntrack.Conns, p)
 }
 
 func (ft *FirewallTable) match(p firewall.Packet, incoming bool, c *cert.CachedCertificate, caPool *cert.CAPool) bool {
diff --git a/firewall/cache.go b/firewall/cache.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 3e34e6ea..00000000
--- a/firewall/cache.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,69 +0,0 @@
-package firewall
-
-import (
-	"context"
-	"log/slog"
-	"sync/atomic"
-	"time"
-
-	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/logging"
-)
-
-// ConntrackCache is used as a local routine cache to know if a given flow
-// has been seen in the conntrack table.
-type ConntrackCache map[Packet]struct{}
-
-type ConntrackCacheTicker struct {
-	cacheV    uint64
-	cacheTick atomic.Uint64
-
-	l     *slog.Logger
-	cache ConntrackCache
-}
-
-func NewConntrackCacheTicker(ctx context.Context, l *slog.Logger, d time.Duration) *ConntrackCacheTicker {
-	if d == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	c := &ConntrackCacheTicker{
-		l:     l,
-		cache: ConntrackCache{},
-	}
-
-	go c.tick(ctx, d)
-
-	return c
-}
-
-func (c *ConntrackCacheTicker) tick(ctx context.Context, d time.Duration) {
-	t := time.NewTicker(d)
-	defer t.Stop()
-	for {
-		select {
-		case <-ctx.Done():
-			return
-		case <-t.C:
-			c.cacheTick.Add(1)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-// Get checks if the cache ticker has moved to the next version before returning
-// the map. If it has moved, we reset the map.
-func (c *ConntrackCacheTicker) Get() ConntrackCache {
-	if c == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	if tick := c.cacheTick.Load(); tick != c.cacheV {
-		c.cacheV = tick
-		if ll := len(c.cache); ll > 0 {
-			if c.l.Enabled(context.Background(), logging.LevelTrace) {
-				c.l.Log(context.Background(), logging.LevelTrace, "resetting conntrack cache", "len", ll)
-			}
-			c.cache = make(ConntrackCache, ll)
-		}
-	}
-
-	return c.cache
-}
diff --git a/firewall/cache_test.go b/firewall/cache_test.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 2c8ad089..00000000
--- a/firewall/cache_test.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,70 +0,0 @@
-package firewall
-
-import (
-	"bytes"
-	"log/slog"
-	"strings"
-	"testing"
-
-	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/logging"
-	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/test"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-)
-
-// The tests below pin the log format produced by ConntrackCacheTicker.Get
-// so changes cannot silently break what operators are grepping for. The
-// ticker's internal state (cache + cacheTick) is poked directly to avoid
-// racing a goroutine-driven tick in tests.
-
-func newFixedTicker(t *testing.T, l *slog.Logger, cacheLen int) *ConntrackCacheTicker {
-	t.Helper()
-	c := &ConntrackCacheTicker{
-		l:     l,
-		cache: make(ConntrackCache, cacheLen),
-	}
-	for i := range cacheLen {
-		c.cache[Packet{LocalPort: uint16(i) + 1}] = struct{}{}
-	}
-	c.cacheTick.Store(1) // cacheV starts at 0, so Get() takes the reset path
-	return c
-}
-
-func TestConntrackCacheTicker_Get_TextFormat(t *testing.T) {
-	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
-	l := test.NewLoggerWithOutputAndLevel(buf, logging.LevelTrace)
-
-	c := newFixedTicker(t, l, 3)
-	c.Get()
-
-	assert.Equal(t, "level=DEBUG-4 msg=\"resetting conntrack cache\" len=3\n", buf.String())
-}
-
-func TestConntrackCacheTicker_Get_JSONFormat(t *testing.T) {
-	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
-	l := test.NewJSONLoggerWithOutput(buf, logging.LevelTrace)
-
-	c := newFixedTicker(t, l, 2)
-	c.Get()
-
-	assert.JSONEq(t, `{"level":"DEBUG-4","msg":"resetting conntrack cache","len":2}`, strings.TrimSpace(buf.String()))
-}
-
-func TestConntrackCacheTicker_Get_QuietBelowTrace(t *testing.T) {
-	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
-	l := test.NewLoggerWithOutputAndLevel(buf, slog.LevelDebug)
-
-	c := newFixedTicker(t, l, 5)
-	c.Get()
-
-	assert.Empty(t, buf.String())
-}
-
-func TestConntrackCacheTicker_Get_QuietWhenCacheEmpty(t *testing.T) {
-	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
-	l := test.NewLoggerWithOutputAndLevel(buf, logging.LevelTrace)
-
-	c := newFixedTicker(t, l, 0)
-	c.Get()
-
-	assert.Empty(t, buf.String())
-}
diff --git a/firewall/packet.go b/firewall/packet.go
index 9f2df76f..5f5589fe 100644
--- a/firewall/packet.go
+++ b/firewall/packet.go
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ type Packet struct {
 	RemotePort uint16
 	Protocol   uint8
 	Fragment   bool
+
+	// pad fills what would otherwise be compiler padding. A Packet with no padding hashes as one
+	// block of memory, which makes it a much faster map key. Always zero.
+	pad [2]byte
 }
 
 func (fp *Packet) Copy() *Packet {
diff --git a/firewall_test.go b/firewall_test.go
index b8727915..befe7072 100644
--- a/firewall_test.go
+++ b/firewall_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package nebula
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
+	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"log/slog"
 	"math"
@@ -23,39 +24,12 @@ func TestNewFirewall(t *testing.T) {
 	l := test.NewLogger()
 	c := &dummyCert{}
 	fw := NewFirewall(l, time.Second, time.Minute, time.Hour, c)
-	conntrack := fw.Conntrack
-	assert.NotNil(t, conntrack)
-	assert.NotNil(t, conntrack.Conns)
-	assert.NotNil(t, conntrack.TimerWheel)
+	assert.NotNil(t, fw.Conntrack)
 	assert.NotNil(t, fw.InRules)
 	assert.NotNil(t, fw.OutRules)
 	assert.Equal(t, time.Second, fw.TCPTimeout)
 	assert.Equal(t, time.Minute, fw.UDPTimeout)
 	assert.Equal(t, time.Hour, fw.DefaultTimeout)
-
-	assert.Equal(t, time.Hour, conntrack.TimerWheel.wheelDuration)
-	assert.Equal(t, time.Hour, conntrack.TimerWheel.wheelDuration)
-	assert.Equal(t, 3602, conntrack.TimerWheel.wheelLen)
-
-	fw = NewFirewall(l, time.Second, time.Hour, time.Minute, c)
-	assert.Equal(t, time.Hour, conntrack.TimerWheel.wheelDuration)
-	assert.Equal(t, 3602, conntrack.TimerWheel.wheelLen)
-
-	fw = NewFirewall(l, time.Hour, time.Second, time.Minute, c)
-	assert.Equal(t, time.Hour, conntrack.TimerWheel.wheelDuration)
-	assert.Equal(t, 3602, conntrack.TimerWheel.wheelLen)
-
-	fw = NewFirewall(l, time.Hour, time.Minute, time.Second, c)
-	assert.Equal(t, time.Hour, conntrack.TimerWheel.wheelDuration)
-	assert.Equal(t, 3602, conntrack.TimerWheel.wheelLen)
-
-	fw = NewFirewall(l, time.Minute, time.Hour, time.Second, c)
-	assert.Equal(t, time.Hour, conntrack.TimerWheel.wheelDuration)
-	assert.Equal(t, 3602, conntrack.TimerWheel.wheelLen)
-
-	fw = NewFirewall(l, time.Minute, time.Second, time.Hour, c)
-	assert.Equal(t, time.Hour, conntrack.TimerWheel.wheelDuration)
-	assert.Equal(t, 3602, conntrack.TimerWheel.wheelLen)
 }
 
 func TestFirewall_AddRule(t *testing.T) {
@@ -212,44 +186,44 @@ func TestFirewall_Drop(t *testing.T) {
 	cp := cert.NewCAPool()
 
 	// Drop outbound
-	assert.Equal(t, ErrNoMatchingRule, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp, nil))
+	assert.Equal(t, ErrNoMatchingRule, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp))
 	// Allow inbound
 	resetConntrack(fw)
-	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp, nil))
+	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp))
 	// Allow outbound because conntrack
-	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp, nil))
+	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp))
 
 	// test remote mismatch
 	oldRemote := p.RemoteAddr
 	p.RemoteAddr = netip.MustParseAddr("1.2.3.10")
-	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp, nil), ErrInvalidRemoteIP)
+	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp), ErrInvalidRemoteIP)
 	p.RemoteAddr = oldRemote
 
 	// ensure signer doesn't get in the way of group checks
 	fw = NewFirewall(l, time.Second, time.Minute, time.Hour, &c)
 	require.NoError(t, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 0, 0, []string{"nope"}, "", "", "", "", "signer-shasum"))
 	require.NoError(t, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 0, 0, []string{"default-group"}, "", "", "", "", "signer-shasum-bad"))
-	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 
 	// test caSha doesn't drop on match
 	fw = NewFirewall(l, time.Second, time.Minute, time.Hour, &c)
 	require.NoError(t, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 0, 0, []string{"nope"}, "", "", "", "", "signer-shasum-bad"))
 	require.NoError(t, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 0, 0, []string{"default-group"}, "", "", "", "", "signer-shasum"))
-	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp, nil))
+	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp))
 
 	// ensure ca name doesn't get in the way of group checks
 	cp.CAs["signer-shasum"] = &cert.CachedCertificate{Certificate: &dummyCert{name: "ca-good"}}
 	fw = NewFirewall(l, time.Second, time.Minute, time.Hour, &c)
 	require.NoError(t, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 0, 0, []string{"nope"}, "", "", "", "ca-good", ""))
 	require.NoError(t, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 0, 0, []string{"default-group"}, "", "", "", "ca-good-bad", ""))
-	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 
 	// test caName doesn't drop on match
 	cp.CAs["signer-shasum"] = &cert.CachedCertificate{Certificate: &dummyCert{name: "ca-good"}}
 	fw = NewFirewall(l, time.Second, time.Minute, time.Hour, &c)
 	require.NoError(t, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 0, 0, []string{"nope"}, "", "", "", "ca-good-bad", ""))
 	require.NoError(t, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 0, 0, []string{"default-group"}, "", "", "", "ca-good", ""))
-	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp, nil))
+	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp))
 }
 
 func TestFirewall_DropV6(t *testing.T) {
@@ -290,44 +264,44 @@ func TestFirewall_DropV6(t *testing.T) {
 	cp := cert.NewCAPool()
 
 	// Drop outbound
-	assert.Equal(t, ErrNoMatchingRule, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp, nil))
+	assert.Equal(t, ErrNoMatchingRule, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp))
 	// Allow inbound
 	resetConntrack(fw)
-	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp, nil))
+	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp))
 	// Allow outbound because conntrack
-	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp, nil))
+	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp))
 
 	// test remote mismatch
 	oldRemote := p.RemoteAddr
 	p.RemoteAddr = netip.MustParseAddr("fd12::56")
-	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp, nil), ErrInvalidRemoteIP)
+	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp), ErrInvalidRemoteIP)
 	p.RemoteAddr = oldRemote
 
 	// ensure signer doesn't get in the way of group checks
 	fw = NewFirewall(l, time.Second, time.Minute, time.Hour, &c)
 	require.NoError(t, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 0, 0, []string{"nope"}, "", "", "", "", "signer-shasum"))
 	require.NoError(t, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 0, 0, []string{"default-group"}, "", "", "", "", "signer-shasum-bad"))
-	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 
 	// test caSha doesn't drop on match
 	fw = NewFirewall(l, time.Second, time.Minute, time.Hour, &c)
 	require.NoError(t, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 0, 0, []string{"nope"}, "", "", "", "", "signer-shasum-bad"))
 	require.NoError(t, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 0, 0, []string{"default-group"}, "", "", "", "", "signer-shasum"))
-	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp, nil))
+	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp))
 
 	// ensure ca name doesn't get in the way of group checks
 	cp.CAs["signer-shasum"] = &cert.CachedCertificate{Certificate: &dummyCert{name: "ca-good"}}
 	fw = NewFirewall(l, time.Second, time.Minute, time.Hour, &c)
 	require.NoError(t, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 0, 0, []string{"nope"}, "", "", "", "ca-good", ""))
 	require.NoError(t, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 0, 0, []string{"default-group"}, "", "", "", "ca-good-bad", ""))
-	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 
 	// test caName doesn't drop on match
 	cp.CAs["signer-shasum"] = &cert.CachedCertificate{Certificate: &dummyCert{name: "ca-good"}}
 	fw = NewFirewall(l, time.Second, time.Minute, time.Hour, &c)
 	require.NoError(t, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 0, 0, []string{"nope"}, "", "", "", "ca-good-bad", ""))
 	require.NoError(t, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 0, 0, []string{"default-group"}, "", "", "", "ca-good", ""))
-	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp, nil))
+	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp))
 }
 
 func BenchmarkFirewallTable_match(b *testing.B) {
@@ -534,10 +508,10 @@ func TestFirewall_Drop2(t *testing.T) {
 	cp := cert.NewCAPool()
 
 	// h1/c1 lacks the proper groups
-	require.ErrorIs(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h1, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h1, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 	// c has the proper groups
 	resetConntrack(fw)
-	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp, nil))
+	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp))
 }
 
 func TestFirewall_Drop3(t *testing.T) {
@@ -614,18 +588,18 @@ func TestFirewall_Drop3(t *testing.T) {
 	cp := cert.NewCAPool()
 
 	// c1 should pass because host match
-	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h1, cp, nil))
+	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h1, cp))
 	// c2 should pass because ca sha match
 	resetConntrack(fw)
-	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h2, cp, nil))
+	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h2, cp))
 	// c3 should fail because no match
 	resetConntrack(fw)
-	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h3, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h3, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 
 	// Test a remote address match
 	fw = NewFirewall(l, time.Second, time.Minute, time.Hour, c.Certificate)
 	require.NoError(t, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 1, 1, []string{}, "", "1.2.3.4/24", "", "", ""))
-	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h1, cp, nil))
+	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h1, cp))
 }
 
 func TestFirewall_Drop3V6(t *testing.T) {
@@ -662,7 +636,7 @@ func TestFirewall_Drop3V6(t *testing.T) {
 	fw := NewFirewall(l, time.Second, time.Minute, time.Hour, c.Certificate)
 	cp := cert.NewCAPool()
 	require.NoError(t, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 1, 1, []string{}, "", "fd12::34/120", "", "", ""))
-	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp, nil))
+	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp))
 }
 
 func TestFirewall_DropConntrackReload(t *testing.T) {
@@ -703,12 +677,12 @@ func TestFirewall_DropConntrackReload(t *testing.T) {
 	cp := cert.NewCAPool()
 
 	// Drop outbound
-	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 	// Allow inbound
 	resetConntrack(fw)
-	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp, nil))
+	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h, cp))
 	// Allow outbound because conntrack
-	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp, nil))
+	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp))
 
 	oldFw := fw
 	fw = NewFirewall(l, time.Second, time.Minute, time.Hour, c.Certificate)
@@ -717,7 +691,7 @@ func TestFirewall_DropConntrackReload(t *testing.T) {
 	fw.rulesVersion = oldFw.rulesVersion + 1
 
 	// Allow outbound because conntrack and new rules allow port 10
-	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp, nil))
+	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp))
 
 	oldFw = fw
 	fw = NewFirewall(l, time.Second, time.Minute, time.Hour, c.Certificate)
@@ -726,7 +700,7 @@ func TestFirewall_DropConntrackReload(t *testing.T) {
 	fw.rulesVersion = oldFw.rulesVersion + 1
 
 	// Drop outbound because conntrack doesn't match new ruleset
-	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, false, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 }
 
 func TestFirewall_ICMPPortBehavior(t *testing.T) {
@@ -771,12 +745,12 @@ func TestFirewall_ICMPPortBehavior(t *testing.T) {
 			p.LocalPort = 0
 			p.RemotePort = 0
 			// Drop outbound
-			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 			// Allow inbound
 			resetConntrack(fw)
-			require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(*p, true, &h, cp, nil))
+			require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(*p, true, &h, cp))
 			//now also allow outbound
-			require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp, nil))
+			require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp))
 		})
 
 		t.Run("nonzero ports", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -784,12 +758,12 @@ func TestFirewall_ICMPPortBehavior(t *testing.T) {
 			p.LocalPort = 0xabcd
 			p.RemotePort = 0x1234
 			// Drop outbound
-			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 			// Allow inbound
 			resetConntrack(fw)
-			require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(*p, true, &h, cp, nil))
+			require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(*p, true, &h, cp))
 			//now also allow outbound
-			require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp, nil))
+			require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp))
 		})
 	})
 
@@ -801,12 +775,12 @@ func TestFirewall_ICMPPortBehavior(t *testing.T) {
 			p.LocalPort = 0
 			p.RemotePort = 0
 			// Drop outbound
-			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 			// Allow inbound
 			resetConntrack(fw)
-			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, true, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, true, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 			//now also allow outbound
-			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 		})
 
 		t.Run("nonzero ports, still blocked", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -814,12 +788,12 @@ func TestFirewall_ICMPPortBehavior(t *testing.T) {
 			p.LocalPort = 0xabcd
 			p.RemotePort = 0x1234
 			// Drop outbound
-			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 			// Allow inbound
 			resetConntrack(fw)
-			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, true, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, true, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 			//now also allow outbound
-			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 		})
 
 		t.Run("nonzero, matching ports, still blocked", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -827,12 +801,12 @@ func TestFirewall_ICMPPortBehavior(t *testing.T) {
 			p.LocalPort = 80
 			p.RemotePort = 80
 			// Drop outbound
-			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 			// Allow inbound
 			resetConntrack(fw)
-			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, true, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, true, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 			//now also allow outbound
-			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 		})
 	})
 	t.Run("Any proto, any port", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -844,12 +818,12 @@ func TestFirewall_ICMPPortBehavior(t *testing.T) {
 			p.LocalPort = 0
 			p.RemotePort = 0
 			// Drop outbound
-			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 			// Allow inbound
 			resetConntrack(fw)
-			require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(*p, true, &h, cp, nil))
+			require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(*p, true, &h, cp))
 			//now also allow outbound
-			require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp, nil))
+			require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp))
 		})
 
 		t.Run("nonzero ports, allowed", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -858,15 +832,15 @@ func TestFirewall_ICMPPortBehavior(t *testing.T) {
 			p.LocalPort = 0xabcd
 			p.RemotePort = 0x1234
 			// Drop outbound
-			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+			assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 			// Allow inbound
 			resetConntrack(fw)
-			require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(*p, true, &h, cp, nil))
+			require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(*p, true, &h, cp))
 			//now also allow outbound
-			require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp, nil))
+			require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp))
 			//different ID is blocked
 			p.RemotePort++
-			require.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp, nil), ErrNoMatchingRule)
+			require.Equal(t, fw.Drop(*p, false, &h, cp), ErrNoMatchingRule)
 		})
 	})
 
@@ -914,7 +888,7 @@ func TestFirewall_DropIPSpoofing(t *testing.T) {
 		Protocol:   iputil.IPProtocolUDP,
 		Fragment:   false,
 	}
-	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h1, cp, nil), ErrInvalidRemoteIP)
+	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h1, cp), ErrInvalidRemoteIP)
 }
 
 func TestFirewall_ConntrackSourceSpoofingAcrossPeers(t *testing.T) {
@@ -965,20 +939,84 @@ func TestFirewall_ConntrackSourceSpoofingAcrossPeers(t *testing.T) {
 		Protocol:   iputil.IPProtocolUDP,
 	}
 
-	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(flow, true, &victimHI, cp, nil),
+	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(flow, true, &victimHI, cp),
 		"victim's own traffic from its own overlay IP must be allowed")
 
 	unseen := flow
 	unseen.RemotePort = 55001
-	assert.Equal(t, ErrInvalidRemoteIP, fw.Drop(unseen, true, &attackerHI, cp, nil),
+	assert.Equal(t, ErrInvalidRemoteIP, fw.Drop(unseen, true, &attackerHI, cp),
 		"sanity: attacker forging victim's source IP must be rejected when no conntrack entry exists")
 
-	got := fw.Drop(flow, true, &attackerHI, cp, nil)
+	got := fw.Drop(flow, true, &attackerHI, cp)
 	t.Logf("attacker replaying victim's 4-tuple: Drop returned %v (nil == packet ALLOWED == spoof succeeded)", got)
 	assert.Equal(t, ErrInvalidRemoteIP, got,
 		"SECURITY: attacker spoofed victim's overlay source IP (192.0.2.2) by reusing an existing conntrack 4-tuple; Drop returned %v instead of rejecting", got)
 }
 
+func TestFirewallConntrack_sweep(t *testing.T) {
+	ct := newFirewallConntrack()
+	live := firewall.Packet{LocalPort: 1}
+	dead := firewall.Packet{LocalPort: 2}
+	ct.store(live, newConn(11, true, 0))
+	ct.store(dead, newConn(10, true, 0))
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(2), ct.count.Load())
+
+	ct.sweep(10)
+	_, ok := ct.conns.Load(live)
+	assert.True(t, ok)
+	_, ok = ct.conns.Load(dead)
+	assert.False(t, ok)
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(1), ct.count.Load())
+}
+
+func TestFirewallConntrack_storeAndDeleteCount(t *testing.T) {
+	ct := newFirewallConntrack()
+	fp := firewall.Packet{LocalPort: 1}
+	first := newConn(10, true, 0)
+	ct.store(fp, first)
+
+	// Replacing an entry doesn't add to the count
+	second := newConn(20, true, 1)
+	ct.store(fp, second)
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(1), ct.count.Load())
+
+	// Deleting a stale entry is a no-op, the newer one stays
+	ct.delete(fp, first)
+	v, ok := ct.conns.Load(fp)
+	assert.True(t, ok)
+	assert.Same(t, second, v)
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(1), ct.count.Load())
+
+	ct.delete(fp, second)
+	_, ok = ct.conns.Load(fp)
+	assert.False(t, ok)
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(0), ct.count.Load())
+
+	ct.store(fp, first)
+	ct.store(firewall.Packet{LocalPort: 2}, newConn(10, true, 0))
+	ct.clear()
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(0), ct.count.Load())
+}
+
+func TestFirewallConntrack_Run(t *testing.T) {
+	ct := newFirewallConntrack()
+	ct.epoch = time.Now().Add(-time.Hour)
+	ct.store(firewall.Packet{LocalPort: 1}, newConn(10, true, 0))
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		ct.Run(ctx)
+		close(done)
+	}()
+
+	// The first tick sets the clock to an hour in and sweeps the long expired entry
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool { return ct.count.Load() == 0 }, 5*time.Second, 10*time.Millisecond)
+	assert.GreaterOrEqual(t, ct.now.Load(), uint32(3600))
+	cancel()
+	<-done
+}
+
 // BenchmarkFirewallDropConntrackHit measures Drop on an already-established flow
 // (a conntrack hit). This is the fast path that the source-IP<->cert binding
 // reordering adds work to, so it quantifies the cost of moving the address checks
@@ -987,8 +1025,6 @@ func TestFirewall_ConntrackSourceSpoofingAcrossPeers(t *testing.T) {
 //     so the remote-address check is a single netip.Addr compare.
 //   - complex: peer cert has unsafe networks (h.networks populated), so the
 //     remote-address check is a BART lookup.
-//   - noCache/localCache: whether a per-batch ConntrackCache is supplied, which in
-//     the original code let the fast path skip straight past the address checks.
 func BenchmarkFirewallDropConntrackHit(b *testing.B) {
 	l := test.NewLoggerWithOutput(&bytes.Buffer{})
 
@@ -1036,14 +1072,11 @@ func BenchmarkFirewallDropConntrackHit(b *testing.B) {
 	}
 
 	cases := []struct {
-		name     string
-		host     *HostInfo
-		useCache bool
+		name string
+		host *HostInfo
 	}{
-		{"simple/noCache", simpleHost, false},
-		{"simple/localCache", simpleHost, true},
-		{"complex/noCache", complexHost, false},
-		{"complex/localCache", complexHost, true},
+		{"simple", simpleHost},
+		{"complex", complexHost},
 	}
 
 	for _, tc := range cases {
@@ -1052,17 +1085,12 @@ func BenchmarkFirewallDropConntrackHit(b *testing.B) {
 			require.NoError(b, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 0, 0, []string{"any"}, "", "", "", "", ""))
 
 			// Establish the conntrack entry so every benchmarked Drop is a hit.
-			require.NoError(b, fw.Drop(flow, true, tc.host, cp, nil))
-
-			var cache firewall.ConntrackCache
-			if tc.useCache {
-				cache = firewall.ConntrackCache{}
-			}
+			require.NoError(b, fw.Drop(flow, true, tc.host, cp))
 
 			b.ReportAllocs()
 			b.ResetTimer()
 			for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-				if err := fw.Drop(flow, true, tc.host, cp, cache); err != nil {
+				if err := fw.Drop(flow, true, tc.host, cp); err != nil {
 					b.Fatal(err)
 				}
 			}
@@ -1550,7 +1578,7 @@ func (c *testcase) Test(t *testing.T, fw *Firewall) {
 	t.Helper()
 	cp := cert.NewCAPool()
 	resetConntrack(fw)
-	err := fw.Drop(c.p, true, c.h, cp, nil)
+	err := fw.Drop(c.p, true, c.h, cp)
 	if c.err == nil {
 		require.NoError(t, err, "failed to not drop remote address %s", c.p.RemoteAddr)
 	} else {
@@ -1741,7 +1769,5 @@ func (mf *mockFirewall) AddRule(incoming bool, proto uint8, startPort int32, end
 }
 
 func resetConntrack(fw *Firewall) {
-	fw.Conntrack.Lock()
-	fw.Conntrack.Conns = map[firewall.Packet]*conn{}
-	fw.Conntrack.Unlock()
+	fw.Conntrack.clear()
 }
diff --git a/inside.go b/inside.go
index 8eedbc49..0089bec1 100644
--- a/inside.go
+++ b/inside.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
 )
 
-func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePacket(pkt tio.Packet, fwPacket *firewall.ParsedPacket, nb []byte, sendBatch *batch.SendBatch, rejectBuf []byte, q int, localCache firewall.ConntrackCache) {
+func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePacket(pkt tio.Packet, fwPacket *firewall.ParsedPacket, nb []byte, sendBatch *batch.SendBatch, rejectBuf []byte, q int) {
 	// borrowed: pkt.Bytes is owned by the originating tio.Queue and is
 	// only valid until the next Read on that queue. Every consumer below
 	// (parse, self-forward, handshake cache, sendInsideMessage) reads it
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePacket(pkt tio.Packet, fwPacket *firewall.Parse
 		return
 	}
 
-	dropReason := f.firewall.Drop(fwPacket.Packet, false, hostinfo, f.pki.GetCAPool(), localCache)
+	dropReason := f.firewall.Drop(fwPacket.Packet, false, hostinfo, f.pki.GetCAPool())
 	if dropReason == nil {
 		f.sendInsideMessage(hostinfo, pkt, nb, sendBatch)
 	} else {
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ func (f *Interface) sendMessageNow(t header.MessageType, st header.MessageSubTyp
 	}
 
 	// check if packet is in outbound fw rules
-	dropReason := f.firewall.Drop(fp.Packet, false, hostinfo, f.pki.GetCAPool(), nil)
+	dropReason := f.firewall.Drop(fp.Packet, false, hostinfo, f.pki.GetCAPool())
 	if dropReason != nil {
 		if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
 			f.l.Debug("dropping cached packet",
diff --git a/inside_test.go b/inside_test.go
index 87952201..2aa40a17 100644
--- a/inside_test.go
+++ b/inside_test.go
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ func newSelfForwardInterface(myAddrs ...netip.Addr) (*Interface, *capturingTun)
 }
 
 func consumeInside(f *Interface, packet []byte) {
-	f.consumeInsidePacket(tio.Packet{Bytes: packet}, &firewall.ParsedPacket{}, make([]byte, 12), nil, make([]byte, mtu), 0, nil)
+	f.consumeInsidePacket(tio.Packet{Bytes: packet}, &firewall.ParsedPacket{}, make([]byte, 12), nil, make([]byte, mtu), 0)
 }
 
 // l4Proto describes one upper-layer header for these tests: its IP next-header
diff --git a/interface.go b/interface.go
index 1e0e3db8..69928165 100644
--- a/interface.go
+++ b/interface.go
@@ -52,8 +52,6 @@ type InterfaceConfig struct {
 	reQueryEvery    uint32
 	reQueryWait     time.Duration
 
-	ConntrackCacheTimeout time.Duration
-
 	// CpuAffinity, when non-empty, names the CPUs each TUN reader goroutine
 	// should pin to. Queue i pins to CpuAffinity[i % len(CpuAffinity)] —
 	// shorter lists than `routines` cycle. Empty list keeps the default
@@ -111,8 +109,6 @@ type Interface struct {
 	rebindEpoch atomic.Uint32
 	version     string
 
-	conntrackCacheTimeout time.Duration
-
 	ctx     context.Context
 	writers []udp.Conn
 	queues  []tio.Queue
@@ -227,7 +223,6 @@ func NewInterface(ctx context.Context, c *InterfaceConfig) (*Interface, error) {
 		myBroadcastAddrsTable: cs.myVpnBroadcastAddrsTable,
 		relayManager:          c.relayManager,
 		connectionManager:     c.connectionManager,
-		conntrackCacheTimeout: c.ConntrackCacheTimeout,
 		cpuAffinity:           c.CpuAffinity,
 		pinThreads:            c.PinThreads,
 
@@ -362,7 +357,6 @@ type rxContext struct {
 	fwPacket     *firewall.ParsedPacket
 	hostmapCache map[uint32]*HostInfo
 	lhh          *LightHouseHandler
-	ctCache      *firewall.ConntrackCacheTicker
 }
 
 func newRxContext(f *Interface, q int) *rxContext {
@@ -374,7 +368,6 @@ func newRxContext(f *Interface, q int) *rxContext {
 		fwPacket:     &firewall.ParsedPacket{},
 		hostmapCache: map[uint32]*HostInfo{},
 		lhh:          f.lightHouse.NewRequestHandler(),
-		ctCache:      firewall.NewConntrackCacheTicker(f.ctx, f.l, f.conntrackCacheTimeout),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -444,8 +437,6 @@ func (f *Interface) listenIn(queue tio.Queue, i int) {
 	fwPacket := &firewall.ParsedPacket{}
 	nb := make([]byte, 12, 12)
 
-	conntrackCache := firewall.NewConntrackCacheTicker(f.ctx, f.l, f.conntrackCacheTimeout)
-
 	for {
 		pkts, err := queue.Read()
 		if err != nil {
@@ -458,7 +449,7 @@ func (f *Interface) listenIn(queue tio.Queue, i int) {
 		}
 
 		for _, pkt := range pkts {
-			f.consumeInsidePacket(pkt, fwPacket, nb, sb, rejectBuf, i, conntrackCache.Get())
+			f.consumeInsidePacket(pkt, fwPacket, nb, sb, rejectBuf, i)
 			// Flush incrementally once a full sendmmsg batch has
 			// accumulated so the first packets of a deep read drain
 			// hit the wire while the rest are still being encrypted.
@@ -531,9 +522,8 @@ func (f *Interface) reloadFirewall(c *config.C) {
 	}
 
 	oldFw := f.firewall
-	conntrack := oldFw.Conntrack
-	conntrack.Lock()
-	defer conntrack.Unlock()
+	// Conntrack lives as long as the interface, keep using the running one
+	fw.Conntrack = oldFw.Conntrack
 
 	fw.rulesVersion = oldFw.rulesVersion + 1
 	// If rulesVersion is back to zero, we have wrapped all the way around. Be
@@ -544,8 +534,7 @@ func (f *Interface) reloadFirewall(c *config.C) {
 			"oldFirewallHashes", oldFw.GetRuleHashes(),
 			"rulesVersion", fw.rulesVersion,
 		)
-	} else {
-		fw.Conntrack = conntrack
+		fw.Conntrack.clear()
 	}
 
 	f.firewall = fw
diff --git a/interface_emit_test.go b/interface_emit_test.go
index b0a9d025..2890a574 100644
--- a/interface_emit_test.go
+++ b/interface_emit_test.go
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/rcrowley/go-metrics"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert"
-	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/firewall"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/overlaytest"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/test"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/udp"
@@ -43,7 +42,7 @@ func Test_emitStats_primesGauges(t *testing.T) {
 		hostMap:          hostMap,
 		inside:           &overlaytest.NoopTun{},
 		outside:          &udp.NoopConn{},
-		firewall:         &Firewall{Conntrack: &FirewallConntrack{Conns: map[firewall.Packet]*conn{}}},
+		firewall:         &Firewall{Conntrack: newFirewallConntrack()},
 		lightHouse:       lh,
 		pki:              &PKI{},
 		handshakeManager: NewHandshakeManager(l, hostMap, lh, &udp.NoopConn{}, defaultHandshakeConfig),
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 52f7bea8..41d6f51b 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -113,18 +113,6 @@ func Main(c *config.C, configTest bool, buildVersion string, l *slog.Logger, dev
 		l.Info("Using multiple routines", "routines", routines)
 	}
 
-	// EXPERIMENTAL
-	// Intentionally not documented yet while we do more testing and determine
-	// a good default value.
-	conntrackCacheTimeout := c.GetDuration("firewall.conntrack.routine_cache_timeout", 0)
-	if routines > 1 && !c.IsSet("firewall.conntrack.routine_cache_timeout") {
-		// Use a different default if we are running with multiple routines
-		conntrackCacheTimeout = 1 * time.Second
-	}
-	if conntrackCacheTimeout > 0 {
-		l.Info("Using routine-local conntrack cache", "duration", conntrackCacheTimeout)
-	}
-
 	var tun overlay.Device
 	if !configTest {
 		c.CatchHUP(ctx)
@@ -274,29 +262,28 @@ func Main(c *config.C, configTest bool, buildVersion string, l *slog.Logger, dev
 	}
 
 	ifConfig := &InterfaceConfig{
-		HostMap:               hostMap,
-		Inside:                tun,
-		Outside:               udpConns[0],
-		pki:                   pki,
-		Firewall:              fw,
-		DnsServer:             ds,
-		HandshakeManager:      handshakeManager,
-		connectionManager:     connManager,
-		lightHouse:            lightHouse,
-		tryPromoteEvery:       c.GetUint32("counters.try_promote", defaultPromoteEvery),
-		reQueryEvery:          c.GetUint32("counters.requery_every_packets", defaultReQueryEvery),
-		reQueryWait:           c.GetDuration("timers.requery_wait_duration", defaultReQueryWait),
-		DropLocalBroadcast:    c.GetBool("tun.drop_local_broadcast", false),
-		DropMulticast:         c.GetBool("tun.drop_multicast", false),
-		routines:              routines,
-		MessageMetrics:        messageMetrics,
-		version:               buildVersion,
-		relayManager:          NewRelayManager(ctx, l, hostMap, c),
-		punchy:                punchy,
-		ConntrackCacheTimeout: conntrackCacheTimeout,
-		CpuAffinity:           cpuAffinity,
-		PinThreads:            pinThreads,
-		l:                     l,
+		HostMap:            hostMap,
+		Inside:             tun,
+		Outside:            udpConns[0],
+		pki:                pki,
+		Firewall:           fw,
+		DnsServer:          ds,
+		HandshakeManager:   handshakeManager,
+		connectionManager:  connManager,
+		lightHouse:         lightHouse,
+		tryPromoteEvery:    c.GetUint32("counters.try_promote", defaultPromoteEvery),
+		reQueryEvery:       c.GetUint32("counters.requery_every_packets", defaultReQueryEvery),
+		reQueryWait:        c.GetDuration("timers.requery_wait_duration", defaultReQueryWait),
+		DropLocalBroadcast: c.GetBool("tun.drop_local_broadcast", false),
+		DropMulticast:      c.GetBool("tun.drop_multicast", false),
+		routines:           routines,
+		MessageMetrics:     messageMetrics,
+		version:            buildVersion,
+		relayManager:       NewRelayManager(ctx, l, hostMap, c),
+		punchy:             punchy,
+		CpuAffinity:        cpuAffinity,
+		PinThreads:         pinThreads,
+		l:                  l,
 	}
 
 	var ifce *Interface
@@ -316,6 +303,7 @@ func Main(c *config.C, configTest bool, buildVersion string, l *slog.Logger, dev
 
 		handshakeManager.f = ifce
 		go handshakeManager.Run(ctx)
+		go ifce.firewall.Conntrack.Run(ctx)
 
 		punchy.Start(ctx, ifce, hostMap, lightHouse)
 	}
diff --git a/outside.go b/outside.go
index c28fe1ea..a3a46393 100644
--- a/outside.go
+++ b/outside.go
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ func (f *Interface) handleOutsideMessagePacket(hostinfo *HostInfo, messageCounte
 		return
 	}
 
-	dropReason := f.firewall.Drop(rxc.fwPacket.Packet, true, hostinfo, f.pki.GetCAPool(), rxc.ctCache.Get())
+	dropReason := f.firewall.Drop(rxc.fwPacket.Packet, true, hostinfo, f.pki.GetCAPool())
 	if dropReason != nil {
 		f.rejectOutside(out, hostinfo.ConnectionState, hostinfo, rxc.nb, rxc.scratch, rxc.q)
 		if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {