diff --git a/pkg/loadtester/task_ngrinder.go b/pkg/loadtester/task_ngrinder.go
index f090f971c..4a4dca15e 100644
--- a/pkg/loadtester/task_ngrinder.go
+++ b/pkg/loadtester/task_ngrinder.go
@@ -39,14 +39,14 @@ func init() {
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, errors.New("metadata auth provided is invalid, base64 encoded username:password required")
 		}
-		interval, err := strconv.Atoi(pollInterval)
+		interval, err := time.ParseDuration(pollInterval)
 		if err != nil {
 			interval = 1
 		}
 
 		return &NGrinderTask{
 			TaskBase{canary, logger},
-			baseUrl, cloneId, username, string(passwdDecoded), -1, time.Duration(interval),
+			baseUrl, cloneId, username, string(passwdDecoded), -1, interval,
 		}, nil
 	})
 }
diff --git a/pkg/loadtester/task_ngrinder_test.go b/pkg/loadtester/task_ngrinder_test.go
index eae2f66e0..8d8aa3231 100644
--- a/pkg/loadtester/task_ngrinder_test.go
+++ b/pkg/loadtester/task_ngrinder_test.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func TestTaskNGrinder(t *testing.T) {
 			"clone":        cloneId,
 			"username":     "admin",
 			"passwd":       "YWRtaW4=",
-			"pollInterval": "1",
+			"pollInterval": "1s",
 		}, canary, logger)
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("Failed to create ngrinder task: %s", err.Error())