diff --git a/plugins/inputs/ping/ping.go b/plugins/inputs/ping/ping.go
index 3368a25e054b7..58084a016be69 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/ping/ping.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/ping/ping.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ package ping
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"os/exec"
+	"runtime"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
@@ -133,7 +134,12 @@ func (p *Ping) args(url string) []string {
 		args = append(args, "-i", strconv.FormatFloat(p.PingInterval, 'f', 1, 64))
 	}
 	if p.Timeout > 0 {
-		args = append(args, "-t", strconv.FormatFloat(p.Timeout, 'f', 1, 64))
+		switch runtime.GOOS {
+		case "darwin", "freebsd":
+			args = append(args, "-t", strconv.FormatFloat(p.Timeout, 'f', 1, 64))
+		case "linux":
+			args = append(args, "-W", strconv.FormatFloat(p.Timeout, 'f', 1, 64))
+		}
 	}
 	if p.Interface != "" {
 		args = append(args, "-I", p.Interface)