diff --git a/pi4j-gpio-extension/src/main/java/com/pi4j/gpio/extension/mcp/MCP23017GpioProvider.java b/pi4j-gpio-extension/src/main/java/com/pi4j/gpio/extension/mcp/MCP23017GpioProvider.java
index b1d05c8d8..4956c3a3c 100644
--- a/pi4j-gpio-extension/src/main/java/com/pi4j/gpio/extension/mcp/MCP23017GpioProvider.java
+++ b/pi4j-gpio-extension/src/main/java/com/pi4j/gpio/extension/mcp/MCP23017GpioProvider.java
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ public class MCP23017GpioProvider extends GpioProviderBase implements GpioProvid
     public static final String NAME = "com.pi4j.gpio.extension.mcp.MCP23017GpioProvider";
     public static final String DESCRIPTION = "MCP23017 GPIO Provider";
     public static final int DEFAULT_ADDRESS = 0x20;
+    public static final int DEFAULT_POLLING_TIME = 50;
 
     private static final int REGISTER_IODIR_A = 0x00;
     private static final int REGISTER_IODIR_B = 0x01;
@@ -89,6 +90,8 @@ public class MCP23017GpioProvider extends GpioProviderBase implements GpioProvid
     private int currentPullupA = 0;
     private int currentPullupB = 0;
 
+    private int pollingTime = DEFAULT_POLLING_TIME;
+
     private boolean i2cBusOwner = false;
     private final I2CBus bus;
     private final I2CDevice device;
@@ -96,11 +99,19 @@ public class MCP23017GpioProvider extends GpioProviderBase implements GpioProvid
 
     public MCP23017GpioProvider(int busNumber, int address) throws IOException {
         // create I2C communications bus instance
-        this(I2CFactory.getInstance(busNumber), address);
-        i2cBusOwner = true;
+        this(busNumber, address, DEFAULT_POLLING_TIME);
+    }
+
+    public MCP23017GpioProvider(int busNumber, int address, int pollingTime) throws IOException {
+        // create I2C communications bus instance
+        this(I2CFactory.getInstance(busNumber), address, pollingTime);
     }
 
     public MCP23017GpioProvider(I2CBus bus, int address) throws IOException {
+        this(bus, address, DEFAULT_POLLING_TIME);
+    }
+
+    public MCP23017GpioProvider(I2CBus bus, int address, int pollingTime) throws IOException {
 
         // set reference to I2C communications bus instance
         this.bus = bus;
@@ -135,6 +146,11 @@ public MCP23017GpioProvider(I2CBus bus, int address) throws IOException {
         // set all default pin pull up resistors
         device.write(REGISTER_GPPU_A, (byte) currentPullupA);
         device.write(REGISTER_GPPU_B, (byte) currentPullupB);
+        
+        // set pollingtime
+        this.pollingTime = pollingTime;
+        
+        i2cBusOwner = true;
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -408,6 +424,9 @@ public void shutdown() {
         }
     }
 
+    public void setPollingTime(int pollingTime) {
+        this.pollingTime = pollingTime;
+    }
 
     /**
      * This class/thread is used to to actively monitor for GPIO interrupts
@@ -481,7 +500,7 @@ public void run() {
 
                     // ... lets take a short breather ...
                     Thread.currentThread();
-                    Thread.sleep(50);
+                    Thread.sleep(pollingTime);
                 } catch (Exception ex) {
                     ex.printStackTrace();
                 }