diff --git a/docs/envOptions.md b/docs/envOptions.md
index 533ab9317..5c31f2e61 100644
--- a/docs/envOptions.md
+++ b/docs/envOptions.md
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@
 
 - `ICTEST_HOME`: The folder to use as the home / working directory.
 
-- `ICTEST_RELAYER_LOOP_DURATION`: Override the default 50ms relayer loop check duration. Input is in time format (20ms, 1s, etc.). Extremely fast chains may require as low as 5-10ms.
-
 - `ICTEST_SKIP_FAILURE_CLEANUP`: skip cleanup of the temporary directory on a test failure.
 
 - `KEEP_CONTAINERS`: Prevents testnet cleanup after completion.
diff --git a/relayer/rly/cosmos_relayer.go b/relayer/rly/cosmos_relayer.go
index cfcc0f3b2..c0e804c30 100644
--- a/relayer/rly/cosmos_relayer.go
+++ b/relayer/rly/cosmos_relayer.go
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/crypto/keyring"
 	"github.com/docker/docker/client"
-	"github.com/strangelove-ventures/interchaintest/v8/dockerutil"
 	"github.com/strangelove-ventures/interchaintest/v8/ibc"
 	"github.com/strangelove-ventures/interchaintest/v8/relayer"
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
@@ -83,6 +82,23 @@ func ChainConfigToCosmosRelayerChainConfig(chainConfig ibc.ChainConfig, keyName,
 	if chainType == "polkadot" || chainType == "parachain" || chainType == "relaychain" {
 		chainType = "substrate"
 	}
+
+	var err error
+	var loopDuration = time.Millisecond * 50
+	for _, env := range chainConfig.Env {
+		if strings.Contains(env, "ICTEST_RELAYER_LOOP_DURATION") {
+			e := strings.Split(env, "=")
+			if len(e) != 2 {
+				panic(fmt.Sprintf("BUG: failed to parse %s", env))
+			}
+
+			loopDuration, err = time.ParseDuration(e[1])
+			if err != nil {
+				panic(fmt.Sprintf("BUG: failed to parse %s: %s", e[1], err))
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	return CosmosRelayerChainConfig{
 		Type: chainType,
 		Value: CosmosRelayerChainConfigValue{
@@ -98,7 +114,7 @@ func ChainConfigToCosmosRelayerChainConfig(chainConfig ibc.ChainConfig, keyName,
 			Timeout:         "10s",
 			OutputFormat:    "json",
 			SignMode:        "direct",
-			MinLoopDuration: dockerutil.GetTimeFromEnv("ICTEST_RELAYER_LOOP_DURATION", time.Millisecond*50),
+			MinLoopDuration: loopDuration,
 		},
 	}
 }