diff --git a/lncfg/caches.go b/lncfg/caches.go
index 47b9a97e8..abb1cf24d 100644
--- a/lncfg/caches.go
+++ b/lncfg/caches.go
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 package lncfg
 
-import "fmt"
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+)
 
 const (
 	// MinRejectCacheSize is a floor on the maximum capacity allowed for
@@ -10,6 +13,10 @@ const (
 	// MinChannelCacheSize is a floor on the maximum capacity allowed for
 	// channeldb's channel cache. This amounts to roughly 2 MB when full.
 	MinChannelCacheSize = 1000
+
+	// DefaultRPCGraphCacheDuration is the default interval that the RPC
+	// response to DescribeGraph should be cached for.
+	DefaultRPCGraphCacheDuration = time.Minute
 )
 
 // Caches holds the configuration for various caches within lnd.
@@ -24,6 +31,10 @@ type Caches struct {
 	// peers querying for gossip traffic. Memory usage is roughly 2Kb per
 	// entry.
 	ChannelCacheSize int `long:"channel-cache-size" description:"Maximum number of entries contained in the channel cache, which is used to reduce memory allocations from gossip queries from peers. Each entry requires roughly 2Kb."`
+
+	// RPCGraphCacheDuration is used to control the flush interval of the
+	// channel graph cache.
+	RPCGraphCacheDuration time.Duration `long:"rpc-graph-cache-duration" description:"The period of time expressed as a duration (1s, 1m, 1h, etc) that the RPC response to DescribeGraph should be cached for."`
 }
 
 // Validate checks the Caches configuration for values that are too small to be
diff --git a/lntest/node.go b/lntest/node.go
index f164ad070..f56fe1c91 100644
--- a/lntest/node.go
+++ b/lntest/node.go
@@ -303,6 +303,7 @@ func (cfg NodeConfig) genArgs() []string {
 	args = append(args, fmt.Sprintf("--invoicemacaroonpath=%v", cfg.InvoiceMacPath))
 	args = append(args, fmt.Sprintf("--trickledelay=%v", trickleDelay))
 	args = append(args, fmt.Sprintf("--profile=%d", cfg.ProfilePort))
+	args = append(args, fmt.Sprintf("--caches.rpc-graph-cache-duration=0"))
 
 	if !cfg.HasSeed {
 		args = append(args, "--noseedbackup")
diff --git a/rpcserver.go b/rpcserver.go
index 5079f86d2..674e64d51 100644
--- a/rpcserver.go
+++ b/rpcserver.go
@@ -628,6 +628,10 @@ type rpcServer struct {
 
 	// interceptor is used to be able to request a shutdown
 	interceptor signal.Interceptor
+
+	graphCache        sync.RWMutex
+	describeGraphResp *lnrpc.ChannelGraph
+	graphCacheEvictor *time.Timer
 }
 
 // A compile time check to ensure that rpcServer fully implements the
@@ -813,6 +817,23 @@ func (r *rpcServer) addDeps(s *server, macService *macaroons.Service,
 	r.chanPredicate = chanPredicate
 	r.macService = macService
 	r.selfNode = selfNode.PubKeyBytes
+
+	graphCacheDuration := r.cfg.Caches.RPCGraphCacheDuration
+	if graphCacheDuration != 0 {
+		r.graphCacheEvictor = time.AfterFunc(graphCacheDuration, func() {
+			// Grab the mutex and purge the current populated
+			// describe graph response.
+			r.graphCache.Lock()
+			defer r.graphCache.Unlock()
+
+			r.describeGraphResp = nil
+
+			// Reset ourselves as well at the end so we run again
+			// after the duration.
+			r.graphCacheEvictor.Reset(graphCacheDuration)
+		})
+	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -5381,6 +5402,20 @@ func (r *rpcServer) DescribeGraph(ctx context.Context,
 	resp := &lnrpc.ChannelGraph{}
 	includeUnannounced := req.IncludeUnannounced
 
+	// Check to see if the cache is already populated, if so then we can
+	// just return it directly.
+	//
+	// TODO(roasbeef): move this to an interceptor level feature?
+	graphCacheActive := r.cfg.Caches.RPCGraphCacheDuration != 0
+	if graphCacheActive {
+		r.graphCache.Lock()
+		defer r.graphCache.Unlock()
+
+		if r.describeGraphResp != nil {
+			return r.describeGraphResp, nil
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Obtain the pointer to the global singleton channel graph, this will
 	// provide a consistent view of the graph due to bolt db's
 	// transactional model.
@@ -5439,6 +5474,13 @@ func (r *rpcServer) DescribeGraph(ctx context.Context,
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	// We still have the mutex held, so we can safely populate the cache
+	// now to save on GC churn for this query, but only if the cache isn't
+	// disabled.
+	if graphCacheActive {
+		r.describeGraphResp = resp
+	}
+
 	return resp, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/sample-lnd.conf b/sample-lnd.conf
index 69533d338..7601873b4 100644
--- a/sample-lnd.conf
+++ b/sample-lnd.conf
@@ -1088,6 +1088,10 @@ litecoin.node=ltcd
 ; roughly 2Kb. (default: 20000)
 ; caches.channel-cache-size=9000000
 
+; The duration that the response to DescribeGraph should be cached for. Setting
+; the value to zero disables the cache. (default: 1m)
+; caches.rpc-graph-cache-duration=10m
+
 
 [protocol]