diff --git a/apis/actions.github.com/v1alpha1/autoscalinglistener_types.go b/apis/actions.github.com/v1alpha1/autoscalinglistener_types.go
index 4556c455..b1bb0136 100644
--- a/apis/actions.github.com/v1alpha1/autoscalinglistener_types.go
+++ b/apis/actions.github.com/v1alpha1/autoscalinglistener_types.go
@@ -82,6 +82,9 @@ type AutoscalingListenerSpec struct {
 
 	// +optional
 	RoleBindingMetadata *ResourceMeta `json:"roleBindingMetadata,omitempty"`
+
+	// +optional
+	ListenerConfig *ListenerConfig `json:"listenerConfig,omitempty"`
 }
 
 func (s *AutoscalingListenerSpec) Hash() string {
diff --git a/apis/actions.github.com/v1alpha1/autoscalingrunnerset_types.go b/apis/actions.github.com/v1alpha1/autoscalingrunnerset_types.go
index dd1bce7f..afcb4c93 100644
--- a/apis/actions.github.com/v1alpha1/autoscalingrunnerset_types.go
+++ b/apis/actions.github.com/v1alpha1/autoscalingrunnerset_types.go
@@ -121,6 +121,9 @@ type AutoscalingRunnerSetSpec struct {
 	// +optional
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:Minimum:=0
 	MinRunners *int `json:"minRunners,omitempty"`
+
+	// +optional
+	ListenerConfig *ListenerConfig `json:"listenerConfig,omitempty"`
 }
 
 type TLSConfig struct {
diff --git a/apis/actions.github.com/v1alpha1/listenerconfig_types.go b/apis/actions.github.com/v1alpha1/listenerconfig_types.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..227114a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apis/actions.github.com/v1alpha1/listenerconfig_types.go
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+package v1alpha1
+
+// ListenerConfig holds configuration for the ghalistener pod.
+type ListenerConfig struct {
+	// +optional
+	Scaler *ScalerConfig `json:"scaler,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// GetScaler returns the ScalerConfig, or nil if not set.
+func (c *ListenerConfig) GetScaler() *ScalerConfig {
+	if c == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return c.Scaler
+}
+
+// ScalerConfig configures the Kubernetes client used by the ghalistener scaler.
+type ScalerConfig struct {
+	// +optional
+	// +kubebuilder:validation:Minimum:=1
+	QPS *int `json:"qps,omitempty"`
+
+	// +optional
+	// +kubebuilder:validation:Minimum:=1
+	Burst *int `json:"burst,omitempty"`
+}
diff --git a/apis/actions.github.com/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go b/apis/actions.github.com/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
index 0b5c34cb..464ec734 100644
--- a/apis/actions.github.com/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
+++ b/apis/actions.github.com/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
@@ -138,6 +138,11 @@ func (in *AutoscalingListenerSpec) DeepCopyInto(out *AutoscalingListenerSpec) {
 		*out = new(ResourceMeta)
 		(*in).DeepCopyInto(*out)
 	}
+	if in.ListenerConfig != nil {
+		in, out := &in.ListenerConfig, &out.ListenerConfig
+		*out = new(ListenerConfig)
+		(*in).DeepCopyInto(*out)
+	}
 }
 
 // DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new AutoscalingListenerSpec.
@@ -308,6 +313,11 @@ func (in *AutoscalingRunnerSetSpec) DeepCopyInto(out *AutoscalingRunnerSetSpec)
 		*out = new(int)
 		**out = **in
 	}
+	if in.ListenerConfig != nil {
+		in, out := &in.ListenerConfig, &out.ListenerConfig
+		*out = new(ListenerConfig)
+		(*in).DeepCopyInto(*out)
+	}
 }
 
 // DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new AutoscalingRunnerSetSpec.
@@ -627,6 +637,26 @@ func (in *HistogramMetric) DeepCopy() *HistogramMetric {
 	return out
 }
 
+// DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
+func (in *ListenerConfig) DeepCopyInto(out *ListenerConfig) {
+	*out = *in
+	if in.Scaler != nil {
+		in, out := &in.Scaler, &out.Scaler
+		*out = new(ScalerConfig)
+		(*in).DeepCopyInto(*out)
+	}
+}
+
+// DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new ListenerConfig.
+func (in *ListenerConfig) DeepCopy() *ListenerConfig {
+	if in == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := new(ListenerConfig)
+	in.DeepCopyInto(out)
+	return out
+}
+
 // DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
 func (in *MetricsConfig) DeepCopyInto(out *MetricsConfig) {
 	*out = *in
@@ -764,6 +794,31 @@ func (in *ResourceMeta) DeepCopy() *ResourceMeta {
 	return out
 }
 
+// DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
+func (in *ScalerConfig) DeepCopyInto(out *ScalerConfig) {
+	*out = *in
+	if in.QPS != nil {
+		in, out := &in.QPS, &out.QPS
+		*out = new(int)
+		**out = **in
+	}
+	if in.Burst != nil {
+		in, out := &in.Burst, &out.Burst
+		*out = new(int)
+		**out = **in
+	}
+}
+
+// DeepCopy is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, creating a new ScalerConfig.
+func (in *ScalerConfig) DeepCopy() *ScalerConfig {
+	if in == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := new(ScalerConfig)
+	in.DeepCopyInto(out)
+	return out
+}
+
 // DeepCopyInto is an autogenerated deepcopy function, copying the receiver, writing into out. in must be non-nil.
 func (in *TLSCertificateSource) DeepCopyInto(out *TLSCertificateSource) {
 	*out = *in
diff --git a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-controller-experimental/crds/actions.github.com_autoscalinglisteners.yaml b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-controller-experimental/crds/actions.github.com_autoscalinglisteners.yaml
index 29cc9bb4..820a55f1 100644
--- a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-controller-experimental/crds/actions.github.com_autoscalinglisteners.yaml
+++ b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-controller-experimental/crds/actions.github.com_autoscalinglisteners.yaml
@@ -123,6 +123,22 @@ spec:
                   type: object
                   x-kubernetes-map-type: atomic
                 type: array
+              listenerConfig:
+                description: ListenerConfig holds configuration for the ghalistener
+                  pod.
+                properties:
+                  scaler:
+                    description: ScalerConfig configures the Kubernetes client used
+                      by the ghalistener scaler.
+                    properties:
+                      burst:
+                        minimum: 1
+                        type: integer
+                      qps:
+                        minimum: 1
+                        type: integer
+                    type: object
+                type: object
               maxRunners:
                 minimum: 0
                 type: integer
diff --git a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-controller-experimental/crds/actions.github.com_autoscalingrunnersets.yaml b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-controller-experimental/crds/actions.github.com_autoscalingrunnersets.yaml
index a2dfd46d..8b78ce24 100644
--- a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-controller-experimental/crds/actions.github.com_autoscalingrunnersets.yaml
+++ b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-controller-experimental/crds/actions.github.com_autoscalingrunnersets.yaml
@@ -145,6 +145,20 @@ spec:
                           x-kubernetes-map-type: atomic
                       type: object
                   type: object
+                listenerConfig:
+                  description: ListenerConfig holds configuration for the ghalistener pod.
+                  properties:
+                    scaler:
+                      description: ScalerConfig configures the Kubernetes client used by the ghalistener scaler.
+                      properties:
+                        burst:
+                          minimum: 1
+                          type: integer
+                        qps:
+                          minimum: 1
+                          type: integer
+                      type: object
+                  type: object
                 listenerConfigSecretMetadata:
                   description: ResourceMeta carries metadata common to all internal resources
                   properties:
diff --git a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-controller/crds/actions.github.com_autoscalinglisteners.yaml b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-controller/crds/actions.github.com_autoscalinglisteners.yaml
index 29cc9bb4..820a55f1 100644
--- a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-controller/crds/actions.github.com_autoscalinglisteners.yaml
+++ b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-controller/crds/actions.github.com_autoscalinglisteners.yaml
@@ -123,6 +123,22 @@ spec:
                   type: object
                   x-kubernetes-map-type: atomic
                 type: array
+              listenerConfig:
+                description: ListenerConfig holds configuration for the ghalistener
+                  pod.
+                properties:
+                  scaler:
+                    description: ScalerConfig configures the Kubernetes client used
+                      by the ghalistener scaler.
+                    properties:
+                      burst:
+                        minimum: 1
+                        type: integer
+                      qps:
+                        minimum: 1
+                        type: integer
+                    type: object
+                type: object
               maxRunners:
                 minimum: 0
                 type: integer
diff --git a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-controller/crds/actions.github.com_autoscalingrunnersets.yaml b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-controller/crds/actions.github.com_autoscalingrunnersets.yaml
index a2dfd46d..8b78ce24 100644
--- a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-controller/crds/actions.github.com_autoscalingrunnersets.yaml
+++ b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-controller/crds/actions.github.com_autoscalingrunnersets.yaml
@@ -145,6 +145,20 @@ spec:
                           x-kubernetes-map-type: atomic
                       type: object
                   type: object
+                listenerConfig:
+                  description: ListenerConfig holds configuration for the ghalistener pod.
+                  properties:
+                    scaler:
+                      description: ScalerConfig configures the Kubernetes client used by the ghalistener scaler.
+                      properties:
+                        burst:
+                          minimum: 1
+                          type: integer
+                        qps:
+                          minimum: 1
+                          type: integer
+                      type: object
+                  type: object
                 listenerConfigSecretMetadata:
                   description: ResourceMeta carries metadata common to all internal resources
                   properties:
diff --git a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/templates/_listener_template.tpl b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/templates/_listener_template.tpl
index f3f97a4c..5236a2ce 100644
--- a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/templates/_listener_template.tpl
+++ b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/templates/_listener_template.tpl
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 {{- define "listener-template.pod" -}}
-{{- $metadata := .Values.listenerPodTemplate.metadata | default dict -}}
-{{- $spec := .Values.listenerPodTemplate.spec | default dict -}}
+{{- $metadata := .metadata | default dict -}}
+{{- $spec := .spec | default dict -}}
 {{- if and (empty $metadata) (empty $spec) -}}
-  {{- fail "listenerPodTemplate must have at least metadata or spec defined" -}}
+  {{- fail ".Values.listener.podTemplate must have at least metadata or spec defined" -}}
 {{- end -}}
 {{- with $metadata -}}
 metadata:
diff --git a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/templates/autoscalingrunnserset.yaml b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/templates/autoscalingrunnserset.yaml
index 6e2cba35..d42e59f2 100644
--- a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/templates/autoscalingrunnserset.yaml
+++ b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/templates/autoscalingrunnserset.yaml
@@ -5,6 +5,55 @@
 {{- $kubeDefaults := (index $kubeMode "default" | default true) }}
 {{- $kubeServiceAccountName := (index $kubeMode "serviceAccountName" | default "") }}
 {{- $usesKubernetesSecrets := or (not .Values.secretResolution) (eq .Values.secretResolution.type "kubernetes") }}
+{{- /* All listener configuration lives under .Values.listener */ -}}
+{{- if hasKey .Values "listenerMetrics" }}
+  {{- fail ".Values.listenerMetrics has moved to .Values.listener.metrics" }}
+{{- end }}
+{{- if hasKey .Values "listenerPodTemplate" }}
+  {{- fail ".Values.listenerPodTemplate has moved to .Values.listener.podTemplate" }}
+{{- end }}
+{{- $listener := .Values.listener | default dict }}
+{{- if not (kindIs "map" $listener) }}
+  {{- fail ".Values.listener must be an object" }}
+{{- end }}
+{{- $listenerKeys := list "metrics" "podTemplate" "scaler" }}
+{{- range $name, $_ := $listener }}
+  {{- if not (has $name $listenerKeys) }}
+    {{- fail (printf ".Values.listener.%s is not a supported key; supported keys are: %s" $name (join ", " $listenerKeys)) }}
+  {{- end }}
+{{- end }}
+{{- range $name := list "metrics" "podTemplate" }}
+  {{- $value := index $listener $name | default dict }}
+  {{- if not (kindIs "map" $value) }}
+    {{- fail (printf ".Values.listener.%s must be an object" $name) }}
+  {{- end }}
+{{- end }}
+{{- $scaler := $listener.scaler | default dict }}
+{{- if not (kindIs "map" $scaler) }}
+  {{- fail ".Values.listener.scaler must be an object" }}
+{{- end }}
+{{- $scalerKeys := list "burst" "qps" }}
+{{- range $name, $_ := $scaler }}
+  {{- if not (has $name $scalerKeys) }}
+    {{- fail (printf ".Values.listener.scaler.%s is not a supported key; supported keys are: %s" $name (join ", " $scalerKeys)) }}
+  {{- end }}
+{{- end }}
+{{- range $name := $scalerKeys }}
+  {{- if hasKey $scaler $name }}
+    {{- $value := index $scaler $name }}
+    {{- if not (or (kindIs "int" $value) (kindIs "int64" $value) (kindIs "float64" $value)) }}
+      {{- fail (printf ".Values.listener.scaler.%s must be an integer greater than 0" $name) }}
+    {{- else }}
+      {{- $number := float64 $value }}
+      {{- if ne $number (floor $number) }}
+        {{- fail (printf ".Values.listener.scaler.%s must be an integer greater than 0" $name) }}
+      {{- else if lt $number (float64 1) }}
+        {{- fail (printf ".Values.listener.scaler.%s must be greater than 0" $name) }}
+      {{- end }}
+    {{- end }}
+  {{- end }}
+{{- end }}
+{{- $listenerPodTemplate := $listener.podTemplate | default dict }}
 
 {{- $runnerPod := (index $runner "pod" | default dict) -}}
 {{- if not (kindIs "map" $runnerPod) -}}
@@ -165,12 +214,17 @@ spec:
   minRunners: {{ .Values.scaleset.minRunners | int }}
   {{- end }}
 
-  {{- if and .Values.listenerPodTemplate (or .Values.listenerPodTemplate.metadata .Values.listenerPodTemplate.spec) }}
+  {{- if or $listenerPodTemplate.metadata $listenerPodTemplate.spec }}
   listenerTemplate:
-    {{- include "listener-template.pod" . | nindent 4}}
+    {{- include "listener-template.pod" $listenerPodTemplate | nindent 4}}
   {{- end }}
 
-  {{- with .Values.listenerMetrics }}
+  {{- with $listener.scaler }}
+  listenerConfig:
+    scaler:
+      {{- toYaml . | nindent 6 }}
+  {{- end }}
+  {{- with $listener.metrics }}
   listenerMetrics:
     {{- toYaml . | nindent 4 }}
   {{- end }}
diff --git a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/tests/autoscaling_runner_set_listener_metrics_test.yaml b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/tests/autoscaling_runner_set_listener_metrics_test.yaml
index 3a2b4ff8..eb6f9478 100644
--- a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/tests/autoscaling_runner_set_listener_metrics_test.yaml
+++ b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/tests/autoscaling_runner_set_listener_metrics_test.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,111 @@
-suite: "Test AutoscalingRunnerSet Listener Metrics"
+suite: "Test AutoscalingRunnerSet Listener"
 templates:
   - autoscalingrunnserset.yaml
 tests:
+  - it: should render default scaler values when listener.scaler is not overridden
+    set:
+      scaleset.name: "test"
+      auth.url: "https://github.com/org"
+      auth.githubToken: "gh_token12345"
+      controllerServiceAccount.name: "arc"
+      controllerServiceAccount.namespace: "arc-system"
+    release:
+      name: "test-name"
+      namespace: "test-namespace"
+    asserts:
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.listenerConfig.scaler.qps
+          value: 50
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.listenerConfig.scaler.burst
+          value: 100
+
+  - it: should render custom scaler values when overridden
+    set:
+      scaleset.name: "test"
+      auth.url: "https://github.com/org"
+      auth.githubToken: "gh_token12345"
+      controllerServiceAccount.name: "arc"
+      controllerServiceAccount.namespace: "arc-system"
+      listener:
+        scaler:
+          qps: 100
+          burst: 200
+    release:
+      name: "test-name"
+      namespace: "test-namespace"
+    asserts:
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.listenerConfig.scaler.qps
+          value: 100
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.listenerConfig.scaler.burst
+          value: 200
+
+  - it: should render qps override while keeping default burst
+    set:
+      scaleset.name: "test"
+      auth.url: "https://github.com/org"
+      auth.githubToken: "gh_token12345"
+      controllerServiceAccount.name: "arc"
+      controllerServiceAccount.namespace: "arc-system"
+      listener:
+        scaler:
+          qps: 75
+    release:
+      name: "test-name"
+      namespace: "test-namespace"
+    asserts:
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.listenerConfig.scaler.qps
+          value: 75
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.listenerConfig.scaler.burst
+          value: 100
+
+  - it: should render scaler and metrics together
+    set:
+      scaleset.name: "test"
+      auth.url: "https://github.com/org"
+      auth.githubToken: "gh_token12345"
+      controllerServiceAccount.name: "arc"
+      controllerServiceAccount.namespace: "arc-system"
+      listener:
+        scaler:
+          qps: 75
+        metrics:
+          counters:
+            gha_started_jobs_total:
+              labels:
+                - repository
+    release:
+      name: "test-name"
+      namespace: "test-namespace"
+    asserts:
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.listenerConfig.scaler.qps
+          value: 75
+      - exists:
+          path: spec.listenerMetrics
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.listenerMetrics.counters.gha_started_jobs_total.labels[0]
+          value: repository
+
+  - it: should not render listenerConfig when listener is null
+    set:
+      scaleset.name: "test"
+      auth.url: "https://github.com/org"
+      auth.githubToken: "gh_token12345"
+      controllerServiceAccount.name: "arc"
+      controllerServiceAccount.namespace: "arc-system"
+      listener: null
+    release:
+      name: "test-name"
+      namespace: "test-namespace"
+    asserts:
+      - notExists:
+          path: spec.listenerConfig
+
   - it: should not render listenerMetrics when not configured
     set:
       scaleset.name: "test"
@@ -23,18 +127,19 @@ tests:
       auth.githubToken: "gh_token12345"
       controllerServiceAccount.name: "arc"
       controllerServiceAccount.namespace: "arc-system"
-      listenerMetrics:
-        counters:
-          gha_started_jobs_total:
-            labels:
-              - repository
-              - organization
-        histograms:
-          gha_job_startup_duration_seconds:
-            buckets:
-              - 0.1
-              - 1
-              - 2.5
+      listener:
+        metrics:
+          counters:
+            gha_started_jobs_total:
+              labels:
+                - repository
+                - organization
+          histograms:
+            gha_job_startup_duration_seconds:
+              buckets:
+                - 0.1
+                - 1
+                - 2.5
     release:
       name: "test-name"
       namespace: "test-namespace"
diff --git a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/tests/autoscaling_runner_set_listener_pod_template_test.yaml b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/tests/autoscaling_runner_set_listener_pod_template_test.yaml
index 4e02866c..7976c0e1 100644
--- a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/tests/autoscaling_runner_set_listener_pod_template_test.yaml
+++ b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/tests/autoscaling_runner_set_listener_pod_template_test.yaml
@@ -1,21 +1,22 @@
-suite: "AutoscalingRunnerSet listenerPodTemplate"
+suite: "AutoscalingRunnerSet listener.podTemplate"
 templates:
   - autoscalingrunnserset.yaml
 tests:
-  - it: should render listenerTemplate from listenerPodTemplate
+  - it: should render listenerTemplate from listener.podTemplate
     set:
       scaleset.name: "test"
       auth.url: "https://github.com/org"
       auth.githubToken: "gh_token12345"
       controllerServiceAccount.name: "arc"
       controllerServiceAccount.namespace: "arc-system"
-      listenerPodTemplate:
-        spec:
-          containers:
-            - name: listener
-              image: "ghcr.io/actions/actions-runner-controller/actionsmetricsserver:latest"
-              securityContext:
-                runAsUser: 1000
+      listener:
+        podTemplate:
+          spec:
+            containers:
+              - name: listener
+                image: "ghcr.io/actions/actions-runner-controller/actionsmetricsserver:latest"
+                securityContext:
+                  runAsUser: 1000
     release:
       name: "test-name"
       namespace: "test-namespace"
@@ -34,9 +35,10 @@ tests:
       auth.githubToken: "gh_token12345"
       controllerServiceAccount.name: "arc"
       controllerServiceAccount.namespace: "arc-system"
-      listenerPodTemplate:
-        spec:
-          restartPolicy: Always
+      listener:
+        podTemplate:
+          spec:
+            restartPolicy: Always
     release:
       name: "test-name"
       namespace: "test-namespace"
@@ -44,3 +46,49 @@ tests:
       - equal:
           path: spec.listenerTemplate.spec.containers[0].name
           value: listener
+
+  - it: should render podTemplate alongside scaler and metrics
+    set:
+      scaleset.name: "test"
+      auth.url: "https://github.com/org"
+      auth.githubToken: "gh_token12345"
+      controllerServiceAccount.name: "arc"
+      controllerServiceAccount.namespace: "arc-system"
+      listener:
+        scaler:
+          qps: 75
+        podTemplate:
+          spec:
+            restartPolicy: Always
+        metrics:
+          counters:
+            gha_started_jobs_total:
+              labels:
+                - repository
+    release:
+      name: "test-name"
+      namespace: "test-namespace"
+    asserts:
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.listenerConfig.scaler.qps
+          value: 75
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.listenerTemplate.spec.containers[0].name
+          value: listener
+      - equal:
+          path: spec.listenerMetrics.counters.gha_started_jobs_total.labels[0]
+          value: repository
+
+  - it: should not render listenerTemplate when podTemplate is empty
+    set:
+      scaleset.name: "test"
+      auth.url: "https://github.com/org"
+      auth.githubToken: "gh_token12345"
+      controllerServiceAccount.name: "arc"
+      controllerServiceAccount.namespace: "arc-system"
+    release:
+      name: "test-name"
+      namespace: "test-namespace"
+    asserts:
+      - notExists:
+          path: spec.listenerTemplate
diff --git a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/tests/autoscaling_runner_set_listener_scaler_validation_test.yaml b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/tests/autoscaling_runner_set_listener_scaler_validation_test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1450d9b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/tests/autoscaling_runner_set_listener_scaler_validation_test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+suite: "Test AutoscalingRunnerSet Listener Validation"
+templates:
+  - autoscalingrunnserset.yaml
+set: &base
+  scaleset.name: "test"
+  auth.url: "https://github.com/org"
+  auth.githubToken: "gh_token12345"
+  controllerServiceAccount.name: "arc"
+  controllerServiceAccount.namespace: "arc-system"
+tests:
+  - it: rejects zero qps
+    set:
+      <<: *base
+      listener.scaler.qps: 0
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: ".Values.listener.scaler.qps must be greater than 0"
+
+  - it: rejects negative burst
+    set:
+      <<: *base
+      listener.scaler.burst: -1
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: ".Values.listener.scaler.burst must be greater than 0"
+
+  - it: rejects fractional qps
+    set:
+      <<: *base
+      listener.scaler.qps: 1.5
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: ".Values.listener.scaler.qps must be an integer greater than 0"
+
+  - it: rejects a string burst
+    set:
+      <<: *base
+      listener.scaler.burst: "100"
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: ".Values.listener.scaler.burst must be an integer greater than 0"
+
+  - it: rejects a boolean qps
+    set:
+      <<: *base
+      listener.scaler.qps: true
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: ".Values.listener.scaler.qps must be an integer greater than 0"
+
+  - it: rejects a scaler that is not an object
+    set:
+      <<: *base
+      listener.scaler: "nope"
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: ".Values.listener.scaler must be an object"
+
+  - it: rejects a listener that is not an object
+    set:
+      <<: *base
+      listener: "nope"
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: ".Values.listener must be an object"
+
+  - it: rejects a metrics value that is not an object
+    set:
+      <<: *base
+      listener.metrics: "nope"
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: ".Values.listener.metrics must be an object"
+
+  - it: rejects a podTemplate that is not an object
+    set:
+      <<: *base
+      listener.podTemplate: "nope"
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: ".Values.listener.podTemplate must be an object"
+
+  - it: rejects a misspelled key under listener
+    set:
+      <<: *base
+      listener.metrcs.counters: {}
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: ".Values.listener.metrcs is not a supported key; supported keys are: metrics, podTemplate, scaler"
+
+  - it: rejects a misspelled key under listener.scaler
+    set:
+      <<: *base
+      listener.scaler.qbs: 10
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: ".Values.listener.scaler.qbs is not a supported key; supported keys are: burst, qps"
+
+  - it: rejects the legacy top-level listenerMetrics key
+    set:
+      <<: *base
+      listenerMetrics.counters: {}
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: ".Values.listenerMetrics has moved to .Values.listener.metrics"
+
+  - it: rejects the legacy top-level listenerPodTemplate key
+    set:
+      <<: *base
+      listenerPodTemplate.spec.restartPolicy: Always
+    asserts:
+      - failedTemplate:
+          errorMessage: ".Values.listenerPodTemplate has moved to .Values.listener.podTemplate"
+
+  - it: treats a podTemplate with neither metadata nor spec as a no-op
+    set:
+      <<: *base
+      listener.podTemplate.spec: {}
+      listener.podTemplate.metadata: {}
+    asserts:
+      - notExists:
+          path: spec.listenerTemplate
diff --git a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/values.yaml b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/values.yaml
index 41dc900a..b6698c6d 100644
--- a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/values.yaml
+++ b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set-experimental/values.yaml
@@ -75,23 +75,6 @@ secretResolution:
   #     - example.com
   #     - example.org
 
-  ## listenerTemplate is the PodSpec for each listener Pod
-  ## For reference: https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/kubernetes-api/workload-resources/pod-v1/#PodSpec
-  # listenerPodTemplate:
-  #   spec:
-  #     containers:
-  #     # Use this section to append additional configuration to the listener container.
-  #     # If you change the name of the container, the configuration will not be applied to the listener,
-  #     # and it will be treated as a side-car container.
-  #     - name: listener
-  #       securityContext:
-  #         runAsUser: 1000
-  #     # Use this section to add the configuration of a side-car container.
-  #     # Comment it out or remove it if you don't need it.
-  #     # Spec for this container will be applied as is without any modifications.
-  #     - name: side-car
-  #       image: example-sidecar
-
   ## Resource object allows modifying resources created by the chart itself
 resource:
   # Specifies metadata that will be applied to all resources managed by ARC
@@ -312,158 +295,183 @@ controllerServiceAccount:
   namespace: ""
   name: ""
 
-## listenerMetrics are configurable metrics applied to the listener.
-## In order to avoid helm merging these fields, we left the metrics commented out.
-## When configuring metrics, please uncomment the listenerMetrics object below.
-## You can modify the configuration to remove the label or specify custom buckets for histogram.
-##
-## If the buckets field is not specified, the default buckets will be applied. Default buckets are
-## provided here for documentation purposes
-# listenerMetrics:
-#   counters:
-#     gha_started_jobs_total:
-#       labels:
-#         ["repository", "organization", "enterprise", "job_name", "event_name", "job_workflow_ref", "job_workflow_name", "job_workflow_target"]
-#     gha_completed_jobs_total:
-#       labels:
-#         [
-#           "repository",
-#           "organization",
-#           "enterprise",
-#           "job_name",
-#           "event_name",
-#           "job_result",
-#           "job_workflow_ref",
-#           "job_workflow_name",
-#           "job_workflow_target",
-#         ]
-#   gauges:
-#     gha_assigned_jobs:
-#       labels: ["name", "namespace", "repository", "organization", "enterprise"]
-#     gha_running_jobs:
-#       labels: ["name", "namespace", "repository", "organization", "enterprise"]
-#     gha_registered_runners:
-#       labels: ["name", "namespace", "repository", "organization", "enterprise"]
-#     gha_busy_runners:
-#       labels: ["name", "namespace", "repository", "organization", "enterprise"]
-#     gha_min_runners:
-#       labels: ["name", "namespace", "repository", "organization", "enterprise"]
-#     gha_max_runners:
-#       labels: ["name", "namespace", "repository", "organization", "enterprise"]
-#     gha_desired_runners:
-#       labels: ["name", "namespace", "repository", "organization", "enterprise"]
-#     gha_idle_runners:
-#       labels: ["name", "namespace", "repository", "organization", "enterprise"]
-#   histograms:
-#     gha_job_startup_duration_seconds:
-#       labels:
-#         ["repository", "organization", "enterprise", "job_name", "event_name","job_workflow_ref", "job_workflow_name", "job_workflow_target"]
-#       buckets:
-#         [
-#           0.01,
-#           0.05,
-#           0.1,
-#           0.5,
-#           1.0,
-#           2.0,
-#           3.0,
-#           4.0,
-#           5.0,
-#           6.0,
-#           7.0,
-#           8.0,
-#           9.0,
-#           10.0,
-#           12.0,
-#           15.0,
-#           18.0,
-#           20.0,
-#           25.0,
-#           30.0,
-#           40.0,
-#           50.0,
-#           60.0,
-#           70.0,
-#           80.0,
-#           90.0,
-#           100.0,
-#           110.0,
-#           120.0,
-#           150.0,
-#           180.0,
-#           210.0,
-#           240.0,
-#           300.0,
-#           360.0,
-#           420.0,
-#           480.0,
-#           540.0,
-#           600.0,
-#           900.0,
-#           1200.0,
-#           1800.0,
-#           2400.0,
-#           3000.0,
-#           3600.0,
-#         ]
-#     gha_job_execution_duration_seconds:
-#       labels:
-#         [
-#           "repository",
-#           "organization",
-#           "enterprise",
-#           "job_name",
-#           "event_name",
-#           "job_result",
-#           "job_workflow_ref",
-#           "job_workflow_name",
-#           "job_workflow_target"
-#         ]
-#       buckets:
-#         [
-#           0.01,
-#           0.05,
-#           0.1,
-#           0.5,
-#           1.0,
-#           2.0,
-#           3.0,
-#           4.0,
-#           5.0,
-#           6.0,
-#           7.0,
-#           8.0,
-#           9.0,
-#           10.0,
-#           12.0,
-#           15.0,
-#           18.0,
-#           20.0,
-#           25.0,
-#           30.0,
-#           40.0,
-#           50.0,
-#           60.0,
-#           70.0,
-#           80.0,
-#           90.0,
-#           100.0,
-#           110.0,
-#           120.0,
-#           150.0,
-#           180.0,
-#           210.0,
-#           240.0,
-#           300.0,
-#           360.0,
-#           420.0,
-#           480.0,
-#           540.0,
-#           600.0,
-#           900.0,
-#           1200.0,
-#           1800.0,
-#           2400.0,
-#           3000.0,
-#           3600.0,
-#         ]
+# listener specific configuration. This configuration is applied to the listener component of the chart.
+listener:
+  # scaler is config applied to the kubernetes client component of the listener.
+  # Both values must be integers greater than 0.
+  scaler:
+    # qps is the sustained rate of requests the listener may issue to the Kubernetes API server.
+    qps: 50
+    # burst is the number of requests the listener may issue to the Kubernetes API server in a burst.
+    burst: 100
+  ## podTemplate is the PodSpec for each listener Pod
+  ## For reference: https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/kubernetes-api/workload-resources/pod-v1/#PodSpec
+  # podTemplate:
+  #   spec:
+  #     containers:
+  #     # Use this section to append additional configuration to the listener container.
+  #     # If you change the name of the container, the configuration will not be applied to the listener,
+  #     # and it will be treated as a side-car container.
+  #     - name: listener
+  #       securityContext:
+  #         runAsUser: 1000
+  #     # Use this section to add the configuration of a side-car container.
+  #     # Comment it out or remove it if you don't need it.
+  #     # Spec for this container will be applied as is without any modifications.
+  #     - name: side-car
+  #       image: example-sidecar
+  ## metrics configuration for the listener.
+  ## In order to avoid helm merging these fields, we left the metrics commented out.
+  ## When configuring metrics, please uncomment the metrics object below.
+  ## You can modify the configuration to remove the label or specify custom buckets for histogram.
+  ##
+  ## If the buckets field is not specified, the default buckets will be applied. Default buckets are
+  ## provided here for documentation purposes
+  # metrics:
+  #   counters:
+  #     gha_started_jobs_total:
+  #       labels:
+  #         ["repository", "organization", "enterprise", "job_name", "event_name", "job_workflow_ref", "job_workflow_name", "job_workflow_target"]
+  #     gha_completed_jobs_total:
+  #       labels:
+  #         [
+  #           "repository",
+  #           "organization",
+  #           "enterprise",
+  #           "job_name",
+  #           "event_name",
+  #           "job_result",
+  #           "job_workflow_ref",
+  #           "job_workflow_name",
+  #           "job_workflow_target",
+  #         ]
+  #   gauges:
+  #     gha_assigned_jobs:
+  #       labels: ["name", "namespace", "repository", "organization", "enterprise"]
+  #     gha_running_jobs:
+  #       labels: ["name", "namespace", "repository", "organization", "enterprise"]
+  #     gha_registered_runners:
+  #       labels: ["name", "namespace", "repository", "organization", "enterprise"]
+  #     gha_busy_runners:
+  #       labels: ["name", "namespace", "repository", "organization", "enterprise"]
+  #     gha_min_runners:
+  #       labels: ["name", "namespace", "repository", "organization", "enterprise"]
+  #     gha_max_runners:
+  #       labels: ["name", "namespace", "repository", "organization", "enterprise"]
+  #     gha_desired_runners:
+  #       labels: ["name", "namespace", "repository", "organization", "enterprise"]
+  #     gha_idle_runners:
+  #       labels: ["name", "namespace", "repository", "organization", "enterprise"]
+  #   histograms:
+  #     gha_job_startup_duration_seconds:
+  #       labels:
+  #         ["repository", "organization", "enterprise", "job_name", "event_name","job_workflow_ref", "job_workflow_name", "job_workflow_target"]
+  #       buckets:
+  #         [
+  #           0.01,
+  #           0.05,
+  #           0.1,
+  #           0.5,
+  #           1.0,
+  #           2.0,
+  #           3.0,
+  #           4.0,
+  #           5.0,
+  #           6.0,
+  #           7.0,
+  #           8.0,
+  #           9.0,
+  #           10.0,
+  #           12.0,
+  #           15.0,
+  #           18.0,
+  #           20.0,
+  #           25.0,
+  #           30.0,
+  #           40.0,
+  #           50.0,
+  #           60.0,
+  #           70.0,
+  #           80.0,
+  #           90.0,
+  #           100.0,
+  #           110.0,
+  #           120.0,
+  #           150.0,
+  #           180.0,
+  #           210.0,
+  #           240.0,
+  #           300.0,
+  #           360.0,
+  #           420.0,
+  #           480.0,
+  #           540.0,
+  #           600.0,
+  #           900.0,
+  #           1200.0,
+  #           1800.0,
+  #           2400.0,
+  #           3000.0,
+  #           3600.0,
+  #         ]
+  #     gha_job_execution_duration_seconds:
+  #       labels:
+  #         [
+  #           "repository",
+  #           "organization",
+  #           "enterprise",
+  #           "job_name",
+  #           "event_name",
+  #           "job_result",
+  #           "job_workflow_ref",
+  #           "job_workflow_name",
+  #           "job_workflow_target"
+  #         ]
+  #       buckets:
+  #         [
+  #           0.01,
+  #           0.05,
+  #           0.1,
+  #           0.5,
+  #           1.0,
+  #           2.0,
+  #           3.0,
+  #           4.0,
+  #           5.0,
+  #           6.0,
+  #           7.0,
+  #           8.0,
+  #           9.0,
+  #           10.0,
+  #           12.0,
+  #           15.0,
+  #           18.0,
+  #           20.0,
+  #           25.0,
+  #           30.0,
+  #           40.0,
+  #           50.0,
+  #           60.0,
+  #           70.0,
+  #           80.0,
+  #           90.0,
+  #           100.0,
+  #           110.0,
+  #           120.0,
+  #           150.0,
+  #           180.0,
+  #           210.0,
+  #           240.0,
+  #           300.0,
+  #           360.0,
+  #           420.0,
+  #           480.0,
+  #           540.0,
+  #           600.0,
+  #           900.0,
+  #           1200.0,
+  #           1800.0,
+  #           2400.0,
+  #           3000.0,
+  #           3600.0,
+  #         ]
diff --git a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set/templates/autoscalingrunnerset.yaml b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set/templates/autoscalingrunnerset.yaml
index 45817de2..b75e0d76 100644
--- a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set/templates/autoscalingrunnerset.yaml
+++ b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set/templates/autoscalingrunnerset.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {{- $resourceMeta := default (dict) .Values.resourceMeta }}
 {{- $hasCustomResourceMeta := (and .Values.resourceMeta .Values.resourceMeta.autoscalingRunnerSet) }}
+{{- /* .Values.listenerConfig is validated by values.schema.json */ -}}
 apiVersion: actions.github.com/v1alpha1
 kind: AutoscalingRunnerSet
 metadata:
@@ -167,6 +168,11 @@ spec:
     {{- toYaml . | nindent 4 }}
   {{- end }}
 
+  {{- with .Values.listenerConfig }}
+  listenerConfig:
+    {{- toYaml . | nindent 4 }}
+  {{- end }}
+
   {{- with (index $resourceMeta "autoscalingListener") }}
   autoscalingListener:
     {{- include "gha-runner-scale-set.resourceMetaSpec" . | nindent 4 }}
diff --git a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set/tests/template_test.go b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set/tests/template_test.go
index e9aa4c9b..920bc8bf 100644
--- a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set/tests/template_test.go
+++ b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set/tests/template_test.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	rbacv1 "k8s.io/api/rbac/v1"
+	"k8s.io/utils/ptr"
 )
 
 func TestTemplateRenderedGitHubSecretWithGitHubToken(t *testing.T) {
@@ -141,6 +142,170 @@ func TestTemplateRenderedGitHubSecretErrorWithMissingAppInput(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "provide .Values.githubConfigSecret.github_app_installation_id and .Values.githubConfigSecret.github_app_private_key")
 }
 
+func TestTemplateListenerScalerValidation(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	helmChartPath, err := filepath.Abs("../../gha-runner-scale-set")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	baseValues := map[string]string{
+		"githubConfigUrl":                    "https://github.com/actions",
+		"githubConfigSecret.github_token":    "gh_token12345",
+		"controllerServiceAccount.name":      "arc",
+		"controllerServiceAccount.namespace": "arc-system",
+	}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name          string
+		setValues     map[string]string
+		setStrValues  map[string]string
+		wantErrorText string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:          "zero qps",
+			setValues:     map[string]string{"listenerConfig.scaler.qps": "0"},
+			wantErrorText: "at '/listenerConfig/scaler/qps': minimum: got 0, want 1",
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "negative burst",
+			setValues:     map[string]string{"listenerConfig.scaler.burst": "-1"},
+			wantErrorText: "at '/listenerConfig/scaler/burst': minimum: got -1, want 1",
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "fractional qps",
+			setValues:     map[string]string{"listenerConfig.scaler.qps": "1.5"},
+			wantErrorText: "at '/listenerConfig/scaler/qps'",
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "string burst",
+			setStrValues:  map[string]string{"listenerConfig.scaler.burst": "100"},
+			wantErrorText: "at '/listenerConfig/scaler/burst': got string, want integer",
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "boolean qps",
+			setValues:     map[string]string{"listenerConfig.scaler.qps": "true"},
+			wantErrorText: "at '/listenerConfig/scaler/qps': got boolean, want integer",
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "scaler is not an object",
+			setValues:     map[string]string{"listenerConfig.scaler[0]": "a"},
+			wantErrorText: "at '/listenerConfig/scaler': got array, want null or object",
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "listenerConfig is not an object",
+			setStrValues:  map[string]string{"listenerConfig": "foo"},
+			wantErrorText: "at '/listenerConfig': got string, want null or object",
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "misspelled scaler key",
+			setValues:     map[string]string{"listenerConfig.scalar.qps": "5"},
+			wantErrorText: "at '/listenerConfig': additional properties 'scalar' not allowed",
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "unknown key under scaler",
+			setStrValues:  map[string]string{"listenerConfig.scaler.foo": "bar"},
+			wantErrorText: "at '/listenerConfig/scaler': additional properties 'foo' not allowed",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			setValues := make(map[string]string, len(baseValues)+len(tt.setValues))
+			for key, value := range baseValues {
+				setValues[key] = value
+			}
+			for key, value := range tt.setValues {
+				setValues[key] = value
+			}
+
+			options := &helm.Options{
+				Logger:         logger.Discard,
+				SetValues:      setValues,
+				SetStrValues:   tt.setStrValues,
+				KubectlOptions: k8s.NewKubectlOptions("", "", "test"),
+			}
+			_, err := helm.RenderTemplateContextE(t, t.Context(), options, helmChartPath, "test-runners", []string{"templates/autoscalingrunnerset.yaml"})
+			require.Error(t, err)
+			assert.ErrorContains(t, err, tt.wantErrorText)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTemplateListenerScalerConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	helmChartPath, err := filepath.Abs("../../gha-runner-scale-set")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	baseValues := map[string]string{
+		"githubConfigUrl":                    "https://github.com/actions",
+		"githubConfigSecret.github_token":    "gh_token12345",
+		"controllerServiceAccount.name":      "arc",
+		"controllerServiceAccount.namespace": "arc-system",
+	}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name      string
+		setValues map[string]string
+		wantQPS   *int
+		wantBurst *int
+	}{
+		{
+			name:      "defaults from values.yaml",
+			wantQPS:   ptr.To(50),
+			wantBurst: ptr.To(100),
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "both overridden",
+			setValues: map[string]string{"listenerConfig.scaler.qps": "100", "listenerConfig.scaler.burst": "200"},
+			wantQPS:   ptr.To(100),
+			wantBurst: ptr.To(200),
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "qps overridden keeps default burst",
+			setValues: map[string]string{"listenerConfig.scaler.qps": "75"},
+			wantQPS:   ptr.To(75),
+			wantBurst: ptr.To(100),
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "listenerConfig disabled",
+			setValues: map[string]string{"listenerConfig": "null"},
+			wantQPS:   nil,
+			wantBurst: nil,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			setValues := make(map[string]string, len(baseValues)+len(tt.setValues))
+			for key, value := range baseValues {
+				setValues[key] = value
+			}
+			for key, value := range tt.setValues {
+				setValues[key] = value
+			}
+
+			options := &helm.Options{
+				Logger:         logger.Discard,
+				SetValues:      setValues,
+				KubectlOptions: k8s.NewKubectlOptions("", "", "test"),
+			}
+			output := helm.RenderTemplateContext(t, t.Context(), options, helmChartPath, "test-runners", []string{"templates/autoscalingrunnerset.yaml"})
+
+			var ars v1alpha1.AutoscalingRunnerSet
+			helm.UnmarshalK8SYaml(t, output, &ars)
+
+			if tt.wantQPS == nil && tt.wantBurst == nil {
+				assert.Nil(t, ars.Spec.ListenerConfig.GetScaler())
+				return
+			}
+
+			scaler := ars.Spec.ListenerConfig.GetScaler()
+			require.NotNil(t, scaler)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantQPS, scaler.QPS)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantBurst, scaler.Burst)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestTemplateNotRenderedGitHubSecretWithPredefinedSecret(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
diff --git a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set/values.schema.json b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set/values.schema.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..13505d5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set/values.schema.json
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+{
+  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
+  "title": "gha-runner-scale-set values",
+  "description": "Only values that require strict validation are described here. Any value not listed is intentionally unconstrained.",
+  "type": "object",
+  "properties": {
+    "listenerConfig": {
+      "description": "Configuration for the ghalistener pod.",
+      "type": ["object", "null"],
+      "additionalProperties": false,
+      "properties": {
+        "scaler": {
+          "description": "Configuration for the Kubernetes client used by the ghalistener scaler.",
+          "type": ["object", "null"],
+          "additionalProperties": false,
+          "properties": {
+            "qps": {
+              "description": "Queries per second the listener may issue to the Kubernetes API server.",
+              "type": "integer",
+              "minimum": 1
+            },
+            "burst": {
+              "description": "Burst of queries the listener may issue to the Kubernetes API server.",
+              "type": "integer",
+              "minimum": 1
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set/values.yaml b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set/values.yaml
index 4b4640cf..043cde00 100644
--- a/charts/gha-runner-scale-set/values.yaml
+++ b/charts/gha-runner-scale-set/values.yaml
@@ -146,6 +146,12 @@ githubConfigSecret:
 #     - name: side-car
 #       image: example-sidecar
 
+## listenerConfig holds configuration for the ghalistener pod.
+listenerConfig:
+  scaler:
+    qps: 50
+    burst: 100
+
 ## listenerMetrics are configurable metrics applied to the listener.
 ## In order to avoid helm merging these fields, we left the metrics commented out.
 ## When configuring metrics, please uncomment the listenerMetrics object below.
diff --git a/cmd/ghalistener/config/config.go b/cmd/ghalistener/config/config.go
index 69cfafb8..0726e4ce 100644
--- a/cmd/ghalistener/config/config.go
+++ b/cmd/ghalistener/config/config.go
@@ -32,18 +32,19 @@ type Config struct {
 	// It is initially set to nil if VaultType is set.
 	// Otherwise, it is populated with the GitHub App credentials from the GitHub secret.
 	*appconfig.AppConfig
-	EphemeralRunnerSetNamespace string                  `json:"ephemeral_runner_set_namespace"`
-	EphemeralRunnerSetName      string                  `json:"ephemeral_runner_set_name"`
-	MaxRunners                  int                     `json:"max_runners"`
-	MinRunners                  int                     `json:"min_runners"`
-	RunnerScaleSetID            int                     `json:"runner_scale_set_id"`
-	RunnerScaleSetName          string                  `json:"runner_scale_set_name"`
-	ServerRootCA                string                  `json:"server_root_ca"`
-	LogLevel                    string                  `json:"log_level"`
-	LogFormat                   string                  `json:"log_format"`
-	MetricsAddr                 string                  `json:"metrics_addr"`
-	MetricsEndpoint             string                  `json:"metrics_endpoint"`
-	Metrics                     *v1alpha1.MetricsConfig `json:"metrics"`
+	EphemeralRunnerSetNamespace string                   `json:"ephemeral_runner_set_namespace"`
+	EphemeralRunnerSetName      string                   `json:"ephemeral_runner_set_name"`
+	MaxRunners                  int                      `json:"max_runners"`
+	MinRunners                  int                      `json:"min_runners"`
+	RunnerScaleSetID            int                      `json:"runner_scale_set_id"`
+	RunnerScaleSetName          string                   `json:"runner_scale_set_name"`
+	ServerRootCA                string                   `json:"server_root_ca"`
+	LogLevel                    string                   `json:"log_level"`
+	LogFormat                   string                   `json:"log_format"`
+	MetricsAddr                 string                   `json:"metrics_addr"`
+	MetricsEndpoint             string                   `json:"metrics_endpoint"`
+	Metrics                     *v1alpha1.MetricsConfig  `json:"metrics"`
+	ListenerConfig              *v1alpha1.ListenerConfig `json:"listener_config"`
 }
 
 func Read(ctx context.Context, configPath string) (*Config, error) {
diff --git a/cmd/ghalistener/main.go b/cmd/ghalistener/main.go
index 7dc4a17f..1d572fbf 100644
--- a/cmd/ghalistener/main.go
+++ b/cmd/ghalistener/main.go
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, config *config.Config) error {
 			EphemeralRunnerSetName:      config.EphemeralRunnerSetName,
 			MaxRunners:                  config.MaxRunners,
 			MinRunners:                  config.MinRunners,
+			ScalerConfig:                config.ListenerConfig.GetScaler(),
 		},
 		scaler.WithLogger(logger.With("component", "worker")),
 	)
diff --git a/cmd/ghalistener/scaler/scaler.go b/cmd/ghalistener/scaler/scaler.go
index 51cb0362..7c486f54 100644
--- a/cmd/ghalistener/scaler/scaler.go
+++ b/cmd/ghalistener/scaler/scaler.go
@@ -30,8 +30,14 @@ type Config struct {
 	EphemeralRunnerSetName      string
 	MaxRunners                  int
 	MinRunners                  int
+	ScalerConfig                *v1alpha1.ScalerConfig
 }
 
+const (
+	defaultQPS   = 50
+	defaultBurst = 100
+)
+
 // The Scaler's role is to process the messages it receives from the listener.
 // It then initiates Kubernetes API requests to carry out the necessary actions.
 type Scaler struct {
@@ -52,12 +58,22 @@ func New(config Config, options ...Option) (*Scaler, error) {
 		targetRunners: -1,
 		patchSeq:      -1,
 	}
+	for _, option := range options {
+		option(w)
+	}
+	if err := w.applyDefaults(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 
 	conf, err := rest.InClusterConfig()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	qps, burst := effectiveRateLimiterConfig(config.ScalerConfig, w.logger)
+	conf.QPS = float32(qps)
+	conf.Burst = burst
+
 	clientset, err := kubernetes.NewForConfig(conf)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -65,17 +81,36 @@ func New(config Config, options ...Option) (*Scaler, error) {
 
 	w.clientset = clientset
 
-	for _, option := range options {
-		option(w)
-	}
-
-	if err := w.applyDefaults(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	return w, nil
 }
 
+func effectiveRateLimiterConfig(config *v1alpha1.ScalerConfig, logger *slog.Logger) (int, int) {
+	if config == nil {
+		logger.Debug("Listener scaler configuration is missing; using defaults", "qps", defaultQPS, "burst", defaultBurst)
+		return defaultQPS, defaultBurst
+	}
+
+	qps := defaultQPS
+	if config.QPS == nil {
+		logger.Debug("Listener scaler qps is missing; using default", "default", defaultQPS)
+	} else if *config.QPS < 1 {
+		logger.Warn("Listener scaler qps must be greater than 0; using default", "configured", *config.QPS, "default", defaultQPS)
+	} else {
+		qps = *config.QPS
+	}
+
+	burst := defaultBurst
+	if config.Burst == nil {
+		logger.Debug("Listener scaler burst is missing; using default", "default", defaultBurst)
+	} else if *config.Burst < 1 {
+		logger.Warn("Listener scaler burst must be greater than 0; using default", "configured", *config.Burst, "default", defaultBurst)
+	} else {
+		burst = *config.Burst
+	}
+
+	return qps, burst
+}
+
 func (w *Scaler) applyDefaults() error {
 	if w.logger == nil {
 		w.logger = slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler)
@@ -213,10 +248,11 @@ func (w *Scaler) HandleDesiredRunnerCount(ctx context.Context, count int) (int,
 		Do(ctx).
 		Into(patchedEphemeralRunnerSet)
 	if err != nil {
-		return 0, fmt.Errorf("could not patch ephemeral runner set , patch JSON: %s, error: %w", string(mergePatch), err)
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("could not patch ephemeral runner set, patch JSON: %s, error: %w", string(mergePatch), err)
 	}
 
-	w.logger.Info("Ephemeral runner set scaled.",
+	w.logger.Info(
+		"Ephemeral runner set scaled.",
 		"namespace", w.config.EphemeralRunnerSetNamespace,
 		"name", w.config.EphemeralRunnerSetName,
 		"replicas", patchedEphemeralRunnerSet.Spec.Replicas,
diff --git a/cmd/ghalistener/scaler/scaler_test.go b/cmd/ghalistener/scaler/scaler_test.go
index 7ea3e967..2bf3105c 100644
--- a/cmd/ghalistener/scaler/scaler_test.go
+++ b/cmd/ghalistener/scaler/scaler_test.go
@@ -1,15 +1,126 @@
 package scaler
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"log/slog"
 	"math"
+	"strconv"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/actions/actions-runner-controller/apis/actions.github.com/v1alpha1"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 )
 
 var discardLogger = slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler)
 
+func TestEffectiveRateLimiterConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	qps := 75
+	burst := 150
+	zero := 0
+	negative := -1
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name      string
+		config    *v1alpha1.ScalerConfig
+		wantQPS   int
+		wantBurst int
+		wantLog   string
+		wantLevel string
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "uses configured values",
+			config: &v1alpha1.ScalerConfig{
+				QPS:   &qps,
+				Burst: &burst,
+			},
+			wantQPS:   qps,
+			wantBurst: burst,
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "defaults missing config",
+			wantQPS:   defaultQPS,
+			wantBurst: defaultBurst,
+			wantLog:   "Listener scaler configuration is missing; using defaults",
+			wantLevel: "DEBUG",
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "defaults missing qps",
+			config:    &v1alpha1.ScalerConfig{Burst: &burst},
+			wantQPS:   defaultQPS,
+			wantBurst: burst,
+			wantLog:   "Listener scaler qps is missing; using default",
+			wantLevel: "DEBUG",
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "defaults missing burst",
+			config:    &v1alpha1.ScalerConfig{QPS: &qps},
+			wantQPS:   qps,
+			wantBurst: defaultBurst,
+			wantLog:   "Listener scaler burst is missing; using default",
+			wantLevel: "DEBUG",
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "defaults zero qps",
+			config:    &v1alpha1.ScalerConfig{QPS: &zero, Burst: &burst},
+			wantQPS:   defaultQPS,
+			wantBurst: burst,
+			wantLog:   "Listener scaler qps must be greater than 0; using default",
+			wantLevel: "WARN",
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "defaults negative burst",
+			config:    &v1alpha1.ScalerConfig{QPS: &qps, Burst: &negative},
+			wantQPS:   qps,
+			wantBurst: defaultBurst,
+			wantLog:   "Listener scaler burst must be greater than 0; using default",
+			wantLevel: "WARN",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			var logs bytes.Buffer
+			logger := slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(&logs, &slog.HandlerOptions{Level: slog.LevelDebug}))
+
+			qps, burst := effectiveRateLimiterConfig(tt.config, logger)
+
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantQPS, qps)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantBurst, burst)
+			if tt.wantLog == "" {
+				assert.Empty(t, logs.String())
+				return
+			}
+			assert.Contains(t, logs.String(), "msg="+strconv.Quote(tt.wantLog))
+			// Missing values are a normal configuration, so they must not be
+			// logged as warnings; only out-of-range values are.
+			assert.Contains(t, logs.String(), "level="+tt.wantLevel)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// TestEffectiveRateLimiterConfig_QuietAtInfoLevel asserts that a listener which
+// does not configure the scaler produces no output at the default log level.
+func TestEffectiveRateLimiterConfig_QuietAtInfoLevel(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tt := range []struct {
+		name   string
+		config *v1alpha1.ScalerConfig
+	}{
+		{name: "nil config"},
+		{name: "empty config", config: &v1alpha1.ScalerConfig{}},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			var logs bytes.Buffer
+			logger := slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(&logs, &slog.HandlerOptions{Level: slog.LevelInfo}))
+
+			qps, burst := effectiveRateLimiterConfig(tt.config, logger)
+
+			assert.Equal(t, defaultQPS, qps)
+			assert.Equal(t, defaultBurst, burst)
+			assert.Empty(t, logs.String())
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestSetDesiredWorkerState_MinMaxDefaults(t *testing.T) {
 	newEmptyWorker := func() *Scaler {
 		return &Scaler{
diff --git a/config/crd/bases/actions.github.com_autoscalinglisteners.yaml b/config/crd/bases/actions.github.com_autoscalinglisteners.yaml
index 29cc9bb4..820a55f1 100644
--- a/config/crd/bases/actions.github.com_autoscalinglisteners.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/bases/actions.github.com_autoscalinglisteners.yaml
@@ -123,6 +123,22 @@ spec:
                   type: object
                   x-kubernetes-map-type: atomic
                 type: array
+              listenerConfig:
+                description: ListenerConfig holds configuration for the ghalistener
+                  pod.
+                properties:
+                  scaler:
+                    description: ScalerConfig configures the Kubernetes client used
+                      by the ghalistener scaler.
+                    properties:
+                      burst:
+                        minimum: 1
+                        type: integer
+                      qps:
+                        minimum: 1
+                        type: integer
+                    type: object
+                type: object
               maxRunners:
                 minimum: 0
                 type: integer
diff --git a/config/crd/bases/actions.github.com_autoscalingrunnersets.yaml b/config/crd/bases/actions.github.com_autoscalingrunnersets.yaml
index a2dfd46d..8b78ce24 100644
--- a/config/crd/bases/actions.github.com_autoscalingrunnersets.yaml
+++ b/config/crd/bases/actions.github.com_autoscalingrunnersets.yaml
@@ -145,6 +145,20 @@ spec:
                           x-kubernetes-map-type: atomic
                       type: object
                   type: object
+                listenerConfig:
+                  description: ListenerConfig holds configuration for the ghalistener pod.
+                  properties:
+                    scaler:
+                      description: ScalerConfig configures the Kubernetes client used by the ghalistener scaler.
+                      properties:
+                        burst:
+                          minimum: 1
+                          type: integer
+                        qps:
+                          minimum: 1
+                          type: integer
+                      type: object
+                  type: object
                 listenerConfigSecretMetadata:
                   description: ResourceMeta carries metadata common to all internal resources
                   properties:
diff --git a/controllers/actions.github.com/autoscalinglistener_controller.go b/controllers/actions.github.com/autoscalinglistener_controller.go
index 38e8d64f..497a294a 100644
--- a/controllers/actions.github.com/autoscalinglistener_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/actions.github.com/autoscalinglistener_controller.go
@@ -394,8 +394,9 @@ func (r *AutoscalingListenerReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.
 		labelsModified := !maps.Equal(listenerConfigSecret.Labels, desiredLabels)
 		desiredAnnotations := r.mergeAnnotations(listenerConfigSecret.Annotations, desiredSecret.Annotations)
 		annotationsModified := !maps.Equal(listenerConfigSecret.Annotations, desiredAnnotations)
+		dataModified := !reflect.DeepEqual(listenerConfigSecret.Data, desiredSecret.Data)
 
-		if labelsModified || annotationsModified {
+		if labelsModified || annotationsModified || dataModified {
 			updatedSecret := listenerConfigSecret.DeepCopy()
 			if labelsModified {
 				updatedSecret.Labels = desiredLabels
@@ -403,6 +404,9 @@ func (r *AutoscalingListenerReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.
 			if annotationsModified {
 				updatedSecret.Annotations = desiredAnnotations
 			}
+			if dataModified {
+				updatedSecret.Data = desiredSecret.Data
+			}
 			log.Info("Updating listener config secret", "namespace", updatedSecret.Namespace, "name", updatedSecret.Name)
 			if err := r.Patch(ctx, updatedSecret, client.MergeFrom(&listenerConfigSecret)); err != nil {
 				return ctrl.Result{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to update listener config secret: %w", err)
diff --git a/controllers/actions.github.com/autoscalinglistener_controller_test.go b/controllers/actions.github.com/autoscalinglistener_controller_test.go
index 67f7ecf5..d3414872 100644
--- a/controllers/actions.github.com/autoscalinglistener_controller_test.go
+++ b/controllers/actions.github.com/autoscalinglistener_controller_test.go
@@ -423,6 +423,63 @@ var _ = Describe("Test AutoScalingListener controller", func() {
 			).Should(BeEquivalentTo(rulesForListenerRole([]string{updated.Spec.EphemeralRunnerSetName})), "Role should be updated")
 		})
 
+		It("updates listener scaler configuration and recreates the listener pod", func() {
+			pod := new(corev1.Pod)
+			Eventually(
+				func() error {
+					return k8sClient.Get(ctx, client.ObjectKey{Name: autoscalingListener.Name, Namespace: autoscalingListener.Namespace}, pod)
+				},
+				autoscalingListenerTestTimeout,
+				autoscalingListenerTestInterval,
+			).Should(Succeed(), "Listener pod should be created")
+			oldPodUID := pod.UID
+
+			current := new(v1alpha1.AutoscalingListener)
+			err := k8sClient.Get(ctx, client.ObjectKey{Name: autoscalingListener.Name, Namespace: autoscalingListener.Namespace}, current)
+			Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred(), "failed to get AutoScalingListener")
+
+			qps := 75
+			burst := 150
+			updated := current.DeepCopy()
+			updated.Spec.ListenerConfig = &v1alpha1.ListenerConfig{
+				Scaler: &v1alpha1.ScalerConfig{
+					QPS:   &qps,
+					Burst: &burst,
+				},
+			}
+			err = k8sClient.Patch(ctx, updated, client.MergeFrom(current))
+			Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred(), "failed to update listener scaler configuration")
+
+			secret := new(corev1.Secret)
+			Eventually(
+				func(g Gomega) {
+					err := k8sClient.Get(ctx, client.ObjectKey{Name: scaleSetListenerConfigName(autoscalingListener), Namespace: autoscalingListener.Namespace}, secret)
+					g.Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred(), "failed to get listener config Secret")
+
+					var config ghalistenerconfig.Config
+					err = json.Unmarshal(secret.Data["config.json"], &config)
+					g.Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred(), "failed to parse listener configuration file")
+					g.Expect(config.ListenerConfig.GetScaler()).NotTo(BeNil())
+					g.Expect(config.ListenerConfig.GetScaler().QPS).NotTo(BeNil())
+					g.Expect(config.ListenerConfig.GetScaler().Burst).NotTo(BeNil())
+					g.Expect(*config.ListenerConfig.GetScaler().QPS).To(Equal(qps))
+					g.Expect(*config.ListenerConfig.GetScaler().Burst).To(Equal(burst))
+				},
+				autoscalingListenerTestTimeout,
+				autoscalingListenerTestInterval,
+			).Should(Succeed(), "Listener config Secret should be updated")
+
+			Eventually(
+				func() (types.UID, error) {
+					pod := new(corev1.Pod)
+					err := k8sClient.Get(ctx, client.ObjectKey{Name: autoscalingListener.Name, Namespace: autoscalingListener.Namespace}, pod)
+					return pod.UID, err
+				},
+				autoscalingListenerTestTimeout,
+				autoscalingListenerTestInterval,
+			).ShouldNot(Equal(oldPodUID), "Listener pod should be recreated with the updated configuration")
+		})
+
 		It("propagates updated listener metadata to owned resources", func() {
 			assertPropagatedMetadata := func(expected string) {
 				Eventually(
diff --git a/controllers/actions.github.com/resourcebuilder.go b/controllers/actions.github.com/resourcebuilder.go
index a75d414c..961f7b98 100644
--- a/controllers/actions.github.com/resourcebuilder.go
+++ b/controllers/actions.github.com/resourcebuilder.go
@@ -170,6 +170,7 @@ func (b *ResourceBuilder) newAutoscalingListener(autoscalingRunnerSet *v1alpha1.
 		RoleMetadata:                  autoscalingRunnerSet.Spec.ListenerRoleMetadata,
 		RoleBindingMetadata:           autoscalingRunnerSet.Spec.ListenerRoleBindingMetadata,
 		ConfigSecretMetadata:          autoscalingRunnerSet.Spec.ListenerConfigSecretMetadata,
+		ListenerConfig:                autoscalingRunnerSet.Spec.ListenerConfig,
 	}
 
 	labels := b.filterAndMergeLabels(autoscalingRunnerSet.Labels, map[string]string{
@@ -269,6 +270,7 @@ func (b *ResourceBuilder) newScaleSetListenerConfig(autoscalingListener *v1alpha
 		MetricsAddr:                 metricsAddr,
 		MetricsEndpoint:             metricsEndpoint,
 		Metrics:                     autoscalingListener.Spec.Metrics,
+		ListenerConfig:              autoscalingListener.Spec.ListenerConfig,
 	}
 
 	vault := autoscalingListener.Spec.VaultConfig