diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 3436e21f..cf15c09b 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@
         "colors": "1.4.0",
         "common-env": "^6.4.0",
         "curlconverter": "^3.21.0",
+        "duration-js": "^4.0.0",
         "eventsource": "^1.1.0",
+        "iso8601-duration": "^2.1.2",
         "isomorphic-git": "^1.25.3",
         "linux-release-info": "^3.0.0",
         "lodash": "^4.17.21",
@@ -2238,6 +2240,11 @@
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/duplexer3/-/duplexer3-0.1.4.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-7gHdHKwO08vH/b6jfcCo8c4ALOI="
     },
+    "node_modules/duration-js": {
+      "version": "4.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/duration-js/-/duration-js-4.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-qoXjOsH97r+NrOa6sK5V2cwBOouVG/LI9jwgwKvjVkyqGpZ72yilWjjzFJYPqqbvNZDwpRMaLEUFE+PTefvOEA=="
+    },
     "node_modules/ecc-jsbn": {
       "version": "0.1.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ecc-jsbn/-/ecc-jsbn-0.1.2.tgz",
@@ -4566,6 +4573,11 @@
       "integrity": "sha1-6PvzdNxVb/iUehDcsFctYz8s+hA=",
       "dev": true
     },
+    "node_modules/iso8601-duration": {
+      "version": "2.1.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/iso8601-duration/-/iso8601-duration-2.1.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-yXteYUiKv6x8seaDzyBwnZtPpmx766KfvQuaVNyPifYOjmPdOo3ajd4phDNa7Y5mTQGnXsNEcXFtVun1FjYXxQ=="
+    },
     "node_modules/isobject": {
       "version": "3.0.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/isobject/-/isobject-3.0.1.tgz",
@@ -9929,6 +9941,11 @@
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/duplexer3/-/duplexer3-0.1.4.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha1-7gHdHKwO08vH/b6jfcCo8c4ALOI="
     },
+    "duration-js": {
+      "version": "4.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/duration-js/-/duration-js-4.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-qoXjOsH97r+NrOa6sK5V2cwBOouVG/LI9jwgwKvjVkyqGpZ72yilWjjzFJYPqqbvNZDwpRMaLEUFE+PTefvOEA=="
+    },
     "ecc-jsbn": {
       "version": "0.1.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ecc-jsbn/-/ecc-jsbn-0.1.2.tgz",
@@ -11638,6 +11655,11 @@
       "integrity": "sha1-6PvzdNxVb/iUehDcsFctYz8s+hA=",
       "dev": true
     },
+    "iso8601-duration": {
+      "version": "2.1.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/iso8601-duration/-/iso8601-duration-2.1.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-yXteYUiKv6x8seaDzyBwnZtPpmx766KfvQuaVNyPifYOjmPdOo3ajd4phDNa7Y5mTQGnXsNEcXFtVun1FjYXxQ=="
+    },
     "isobject": {
       "version": "3.0.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/isobject/-/isobject-3.0.1.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 93edb377..f0ac3d10 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@
     "colors": "1.4.0",
     "common-env": "^6.4.0",
     "curlconverter": "^3.21.0",
+    "duration-js": "^4.0.0",
     "eventsource": "^1.1.0",
+    "iso8601-duration": "^2.1.2",
     "isomorphic-git": "^1.25.3",
     "linux-release-info": "^3.0.0",
     "lodash": "^4.17.21",
diff --git a/src/parsers.js b/src/parsers.js
index eed14a8f..2d628326 100644
--- a/src/parsers.js
+++ b/src/parsers.js
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 const cliparse = require('cliparse');
 
 const Application = require('./models/application.js');
+const ISO8601 = require('iso8601-duration');
+const Duration = require('duration-js');
 
 function flavor (flavor) {
   const flavors = Application.listAvailableFlavors();
@@ -143,6 +145,40 @@ function portNumber (number) {
   return cliparse.parsers.error(`Invalid port number '${number}'. Should match ${portNumberRegex}`);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Parse a duration into seconds
+ * A Zero seconds duration is allowed
+ * @param {string} durationStr an ISO8601, 1h or a positive number
+ * @returns {number} number of seconds
+ */
+function durationInSeconds (durationStr = '') {
+  const failed = cliparse.parsers.error(`Invalid duration: "${durationStr}", expect (IS0 8601 duration / a "1h, 1m, 30s" like duration / a positive number in seconds)`);
+
+  if (durationStr.startsWith('P')) {
+    try {
+      const d = ISO8601.parse(durationStr);
+      return cliparse.parsers.success(ISO8601.toSeconds(d));
+    }
+    catch (err) {
+      return failed;
+    }
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const duration = Duration.parse(durationStr);
+    return cliparse.parsers.success(duration.seconds());
+  }
+  catch (err) {
+    const n = Number.parseInt(durationStr);
+    console.log(`N: ${n}`);
+    if (isNaN(n) || n < 0) {
+      return failed;
+    }
+
+    return cliparse.parsers.success(n);
+  }
+}
+
 module.exports = {
   buildFlavor,
   flavor,
@@ -162,4 +198,5 @@ module.exports = {
   ipAddress,
   portNumberRegex,
   portNumber,
+  durationInSeconds,
 };