diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/retry/GenericRetry.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/retry/GenericRetry.java
index a8e1c5b466..9b42971e7c 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/retry/GenericRetry.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/retry/GenericRetry.java
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 package io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.retry;
 
+import java.time.Duration;
+
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.AnnotationConfigurable;
 
 public class GenericRetry implements Retry, AnnotationConfigurable<GradualRetry> {
@@ -40,6 +42,11 @@ public long getInitialInterval() {
     return initialInterval;
   }
 
+  public GenericRetry setInitialInterval(Duration initialInterval) {
+    setInitialInterval(initialInterval.toMillis());
+    return this;
+  }
+
   public GenericRetry setInitialInterval(long initialInterval) {
     this.initialInterval = initialInterval;
     return this;