diff --git a/man/redfishpower.8.in b/man/redfishpower.8.in
index de4be5ac..9b651800 100644
--- a/man/redfishpower.8.in
+++ b/man/redfishpower.8.in
@@ -63,6 +63,10 @@ Set path and optional post data to turn off node.
 .I "settimeout <seconds>"
 Set command timeout in seconds.
 .TP
+.I "setstatuspollinginterval <seconds>"
+Set status polling interval in seconds.  This is the polling interval
+to determine an on/off command has completed.
+.TP
 .I "stat [nodes]"
 Get power status of all nodes or specified subset of nodes.
 .TP
diff --git a/src/redfishpower/redfishpower.c b/src/redfishpower/redfishpower.c
index 972585e7..12f24d77 100644
--- a/src/redfishpower/redfishpower.c
+++ b/src/redfishpower/redfishpower.c
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include <sys/select.h>
 #include <limits.h>
 #include <sys/time.h>
+#include <limits.h>
 #include <ctype.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <assert.h>
@@ -64,11 +65,13 @@ static zhashx_t *test_power_status;
 
 /* in usec
  *
- * status polling interval of 1 second may seem long, but testing
- * shows wait ranges from a few seconds to 20 seconds
+ * status polling interval of 1 second may seem long, but testing shows wait ranges
+ * from a few seconds to almost a minute.  Device files should adjust
+ * to longer times for really bad systems.
  */
-#define STATUS_POLLING_INTERVAL  1000000
+#define STATUS_POLLING_INTERVAL_DEFAULT  1000000
 
+#define USEC_IN_SEC              1000000
 #define MS_IN_SEC                1000
 
 #define CMD_STAT       "stat"
@@ -138,6 +141,10 @@ static struct option longopts[] = {
 };
 
 static time_t cmd_timeout = CMD_TIMEOUT_DEFAULT;
+/* typically is of type suseconds_t, but has questionable portability,
+ * so use 'long int' instead
+ */
+static long int status_polling_interval = STATUS_POLLING_INTERVAL_DEFAULT;
 
 void help(void)
 {
@@ -148,6 +155,7 @@ void help(void)
     printf("  setonpath path [postdata]\n");
     printf("  setoffpath path [postdata]\n");
     printf("  settimeout seconds\n");
+    printf("  setstatuspollinginterval seconds\n");
     printf("  stat [nodes]\n");
     printf("  on [nodes]\n");
     printf("  off [nodes]\n");
@@ -569,7 +577,7 @@ static void send_status_poll(struct powermsg *pm)
                              statpath,
                              NULL,
                              &pm->start,
-                             STATUS_POLLING_INTERVAL,
+                             status_polling_interval,
                              STATE_WAIT_UNTIL_ON_OFF);
     if (!(nextpm->handle = zlistx_add_end(delayedcmds, nextpm)))
         err_exit(true, "zlistx_add_end");
@@ -749,6 +757,23 @@ static void settimeout(char **av)
     }
 }
 
+static void setstatuspollinginterval(char **av)
+{
+  if (av[0]) {
+      char *endptr;
+      long tmp;
+
+      errno = 0;
+      tmp = strtol (av[0], &endptr, 10);
+      if (errno
+          || endptr[0] != '\0'
+          || tmp <= 0
+          || (tmp > (LONG_MAX / USEC_IN_SEC)))
+          printf("invalid status polling interval specified\n");
+      status_polling_interval = tmp * USEC_IN_SEC;
+  }
+}
+
 static void process_cmd(CURLM *mh, char **av, int *exitflag)
 {
     if (av[0] != NULL) {
@@ -768,6 +793,8 @@ static void process_cmd(CURLM *mh, char **av, int *exitflag)
             setpowerpath(av + 1, &offpath, &offpostdata);
         else if (strcmp(av[0], "settimeout") == 0)
             settimeout(av + 1);
+        else if (strcmp(av[0], "setstatuspollinginterval") == 0)
+            setstatuspollinginterval(av + 1);
         else if (strcmp(av[0], CMD_STAT) == 0)
             stat_cmd(mh, av + 1);
         else if (strcmp(av[0], CMD_ON) == 0)