diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b107af42..6906d01e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - The `TypeName` strings defined in `radicle-cob` are restricted to reflect the
   size limits on domain names as specified in
   [RFC-1035](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc1035#section-2.3.4).
+- The `--timeout` flag, which is available on a number of CLI subcommands, now
+  takes a human-readable duration as parameter, E.G. "9s" or "1min" instead of
+  "9" or "60".
 
 ## 1.6.1
 
diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index a24bc88e..6cce09d1 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1854,6 +1854,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "uuid",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "humantime"
+version = "2.3.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "135b12329e5e3ce057a9f972339ea52bc954fe1e9358ef27f95e89716fbc5424"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "iana-time-zone"
 version = "0.1.60"
@@ -2939,6 +2945,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "clap_complete",
  "dunce",
  "human-panic",
+ "humantime",
  "itertools",
  "log",
  "nonempty",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 4be2a705..d97126fe 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ git2 = { version = "0.20.4", default-features = false, features = ["vendored-lib
 gix-hash = { version = "0.22.1", default-features = false, features = ["sha1"] }
 gix-packetline = { version = "0.21.1", default-features = false }
 human-panic = "2.0.6"
+humantime = "2.3"
 itertools = "0.14"
 lexopt = "0.3.0"
 libc = "0.2.137"
diff --git a/crates/radicle-cli/Cargo.toml b/crates/radicle-cli/Cargo.toml
index 6012fa43..5164734c 100644
--- a/crates/radicle-cli/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/radicle-cli/Cargo.toml
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ clap = { version = "4.5.44", features = ["derive"] }
 clap_complete = "4.5"
 dunce = { workspace = true }
 human-panic.workspace = true
+humantime.workspace = true
 itertools.workspace = true
 log = { workspace = true, features = ["std"] }
 nonempty = { workspace = true }
diff --git a/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-clone-partial-fail.md b/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-clone-partial-fail.md
index 56f6bed4..18af1cfd 100644
--- a/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-clone-partial-fail.md
+++ b/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-clone-partial-fail.md
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ When she tries to clone, one of those will fail to fetch. But the clone command
 still returns successfully.
 
 ```
-$ rad clone rad:z42hL2jL4XNk6K8oHQaSWfMgCL7ji --timeout 3
+$ rad clone rad:z42hL2jL4XNk6K8oHQaSWfMgCL7ji --timeout 3s
 ✓ Seeding policy updated for rad:z42hL2jL4XNk6K8oHQaSWfMgCL7ji with scope 'followed'
 Fetching rad:z42hL2jL4XNk6K8oHQaSWfMgCL7ji from the network, found 3 potential seed(s).
 ✓ Target met: 1 seed(s)
diff --git a/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-id-collaboration.md b/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-id-collaboration.md
index d36892e2..8320df20 100644
--- a/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-id-collaboration.md
+++ b/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-id-collaboration.md
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ At this point, when Alice runs `rad sync`, she will fetch Eve's fork
 since she has become a delegate:
 
 ``` ~alice
-$ rad sync --timeout 3
+$ rad sync --timeout 3s
 ✓ Fetching rad:z42hL2jL4XNk6K8oHQaSWfMgCL7ji from z6MkvVv…Z1Ct4tD@[..]..
 ✓ Fetching rad:z42hL2jL4XNk6K8oHQaSWfMgCL7ji from z6MkuPZ…xEuaPUp@[..]..
 ✓ Fetched repository from 2 seed(s)
diff --git a/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-id-multi-delegate.md b/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-id-multi-delegate.md
index dc2dfff6..4cf1192a 100644
--- a/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-id-multi-delegate.md
+++ b/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-id-multi-delegate.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ $ rad id update --repo rad:z42hL2jL4XNk6K8oHQaSWfMgCL7ji --title "Add Bob" --des
 ```
 
 ``` ~bob
-$ rad watch --repo rad:z42hL2jL4XNk6K8oHQaSWfMgCL7ji --node z6Mkux1aUQD2voWWukVb5nNUR7thrHveQG4pDQua8nVhib7Z -r 'refs/rad/sigrefs' -t c9a828fc2fb01f893d6e6e9e17b9092dea2b3aba -i 500 --timeout 5000
+$ rad watch --repo rad:z42hL2jL4XNk6K8oHQaSWfMgCL7ji --node z6Mkux1aUQD2voWWukVb5nNUR7thrHveQG4pDQua8nVhib7Z -r 'refs/rad/sigrefs' -t c9a828fc2fb01f893d6e6e9e17b9092dea2b3aba -i 500 --timeout 5000ms
 $ rad sync --fetch rad:z42hL2jL4XNk6K8oHQaSWfMgCL7ji
 Fetching rad:z42hL2jL4XNk6K8oHQaSWfMgCL7ji from the network, found 1 potential seed(s).
 ✓ Target met: 1 seed(s)
diff --git a/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-init-private-clone-seed.md b/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-init-private-clone-seed.md
index 7d92732e..17fc6124 100644
--- a/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-init-private-clone-seed.md
+++ b/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-init-private-clone-seed.md
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ $ rad inspect --identity
 
 ``` ~bob
 $ rad ls --all --private
-$ rad clone rad:z2ug5mwNKZB8KGpBDRTrWHAMbvHCu --seed z6MknSLrJoTcukLrE435hVNQT4JUhbvWLX4kUzqkEStBU8Vi --timeout 1
+$ rad clone rad:z2ug5mwNKZB8KGpBDRTrWHAMbvHCu --seed z6MknSLrJoTcukLrE435hVNQT4JUhbvWLX4kUzqkEStBU8Vi --timeout 1s
 ✓ Seeding policy updated for rad:z2ug5mwNKZB8KGpBDRTrWHAMbvHCu with scope 'followed'
 Fetching rad:z2ug5mwNKZB8KGpBDRTrWHAMbvHCu from the network, found 1 potential seed(s).
 ✓ Target met: 1 preferred seed(s).
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ Run `cd ./heartwood` to go to the repository directory.
 We can also use `rad seed` to seed and fetch without creating a checkout.
 
 ``` ~bob
-$ rad seed rad:z2ug5mwNKZB8KGpBDRTrWHAMbvHCu --from z6MknSLrJoTcukLrE435hVNQT4JUhbvWLX4kUzqkEStBU8Vi --timeout 1
+$ rad seed rad:z2ug5mwNKZB8KGpBDRTrWHAMbvHCu --from z6MknSLrJoTcukLrE435hVNQT4JUhbvWLX4kUzqkEStBU8Vi --timeout 1s
 ✓ Seeding policy exists for rad:z2ug5mwNKZB8KGpBDRTrWHAMbvHCu with scope 'followed'
 Fetching rad:z2ug5mwNKZB8KGpBDRTrWHAMbvHCu from the network, found 1 potential seed(s).
 ✓ Target met: 1 seed(s)
diff --git a/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-init-private-clone.md b/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-init-private-clone.md
index bb0c0d77..5f0f2519 100644
--- a/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-init-private-clone.md
+++ b/crates/radicle-cli/examples/rad-init-private-clone.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ Bob tries to fetch it, and even though he's connected to Alice, it fails.
 $ rad ls
 ```
 ``` ~bob (fail)
-$ rad clone rad:z2ug5mwNKZB8KGpBDRTrWHAMbvHCu --seed z6MknSLrJoTcukLrE435hVNQT4JUhbvWLX4kUzqkEStBU8Vi --timeout 1
+$ rad clone rad:z2ug5mwNKZB8KGpBDRTrWHAMbvHCu --seed z6MknSLrJoTcukLrE435hVNQT4JUhbvWLX4kUzqkEStBU8Vi --timeout 1s
 ✓ Seeding policy updated for rad:z2ug5mwNKZB8KGpBDRTrWHAMbvHCu with scope 'followed'
 Fetching rad:z2ug5mwNKZB8KGpBDRTrWHAMbvHCu from the network, found 1 potential seed(s).
 ✗ Target not met: could not fetch from [z6MknSLrJoTcukLrE435hVNQT4JUhbvWLX4kUzqkEStBU8Vi], and required 1 more seed(s)
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ the refs.
 ``` ~alice
 $ rad id update --title "Allow Bob" --description "" --allow did:key:z6Mkt67GdsW7715MEfRuP4pSZxJRJh6kj6Y48WRqVv4N1tRk -q
 ...
-$ rad sync --announce --timeout 3
+$ rad sync --announce --timeout 3s
 ✓ Synced with 1 seed(s)
 ```
 
diff --git a/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/clone/args.rs b/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/clone/args.rs
index 0f987f07..bebc00d2 100644
--- a/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/clone/args.rs
+++ b/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/clone/args.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 use std::path::PathBuf;
-use std::time;
 
 use clap::Parser;
 
@@ -31,15 +30,17 @@ pub(super) struct SyncArgs {
     #[arg(short, long = "seed", value_name = "NID", action = clap::ArgAction::Append)]
     seeds: Vec<NodeId>,
 
-    /// Timeout for fetching repository in seconds
-    #[arg(long, default_value_t = 9, value_name = "SECS")]
-    timeout: usize,
+    /// Timeout for fetching repository
+    ///
+    /// Valid arguments are for example "10s", "5min" or "2h 37min"
+    #[arg(long, value_parser = humantime::parse_duration, default_value = "9s")]
+    timeout: std::time::Duration,
 }
 
 impl From<SyncArgs> for SyncSettings {
     fn from(args: SyncArgs) -> Self {
         SyncSettings {
-            timeout: time::Duration::from_secs(args.timeout as u64),
+            timeout: args.timeout,
             seeds: args.seeds.into_iter().collect(),
             ..SyncSettings::default()
         }
diff --git a/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/node.rs b/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/node.rs
index 2d901df3..4e227bf4 100644
--- a/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/node.rs
+++ b/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/node.rs
@@ -29,9 +29,7 @@ pub fn run(args: Args, ctx: impl term::Context) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 
     match command {
         Command::Connect { addr, timeout } => {
-            let timeout = timeout
-                .map(time::Duration::from_secs)
-                .unwrap_or(time::Duration::MAX);
+            let timeout = timeout.unwrap_or(time::Duration::MAX);
             match addr {
                 Addr::Peer(addr) => control::connect(&mut node, addr.id, addr.addr, timeout)?,
                 Addr::Node(nid) => {
@@ -70,9 +68,7 @@ pub fn run(args: Args, ctx: impl term::Context) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         }
         Command::Events { timeout, count } => {
             let count = count.unwrap_or(usize::MAX);
-            let timeout = timeout
-                .map(time::Duration::from_secs)
-                .unwrap_or(time::Duration::MAX);
+            let timeout = timeout.unwrap_or(time::Duration::MAX);
 
             events::run(node, count, timeout)?;
         }
diff --git a/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/node/args.rs b/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/node/args.rs
index db1f025b..44412b04 100644
--- a/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/node/args.rs
+++ b/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/node/args.rs
@@ -105,8 +105,10 @@ pub(super) enum Command {
         addr: Addr,
 
         /// How long to wait for the connection to be established
-        #[arg(long, value_name = "SECS")]
-        timeout: Option<u64>,
+        ///
+        /// Valid arguments are for example "10s", "5min" or "2h 37min"
+        #[arg(long, value_parser = humantime::parse_duration)]
+        timeout: Option<std::time::Duration>,
     },
 
     /// Show the config
@@ -128,8 +130,10 @@ pub(super) enum Command {
     /// If no timeout or count is specified, it will run indefinitely.
     Events {
         /// How long to wait to receive an event before giving up
-        #[arg(long, value_name = "SECS")]
-        timeout: Option<u64>,
+        ///
+        /// Valid arguments are for example "10s", "5min" or "2h 37min"
+        #[arg(long, value_parser = humantime::parse_duration)]
+        timeout: Option<std::time::Duration>,
 
         /// Exit after <COUNT> events
         #[arg(long, short = 'n')]
diff --git a/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/seed/args.rs b/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/seed/args.rs
index db457061..cedf2b6a 100644
--- a/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/seed/args.rs
+++ b/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/seed/args.rs
@@ -43,8 +43,10 @@ pub struct Args {
     pub(super) from: Vec<NodeId>,
 
     /// Fetch timeout in seconds
-    #[arg(long, short, value_name = "SECS", default_value_t = 9)]
-    timeout: u64,
+    ///
+    /// Valid arguments are for example "10s", "5min" or "2h 37min"
+    #[arg(long, short, value_parser = humantime::parse_duration, default_value = "9s")]
+    timeout: std::time::Duration,
 
     /// Peer follow scope for this repository
     #[arg(long, value_parser = terminal::args::ScopeParser)]
@@ -86,7 +88,7 @@ impl From<Args> for Operation {
 
 impl Args {
     fn timeout(&self) -> time::Duration {
-        time::Duration::from_secs(self.timeout)
+        self.timeout
     }
 
     fn should_fetch(&self) -> bool {
diff --git a/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/sync/args.rs b/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/sync/args.rs
index ee4a02f1..df1f5509 100644
--- a/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/sync/args.rs
+++ b/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/sync/args.rs
@@ -89,15 +89,17 @@ pub(super) struct SyncArgs {
     )]
     seeds: Vec<NodeId>,
 
-    /// How many seconds to wait while synchronizing
+    /// How long to wait while synchronizing
+    ///
+    /// Valid arguments are for example "10s", "5min" or "2h 37min"
     #[arg(
         long,
         short,
-        default_value_t = 9,
-        value_name = "SECS",
+        default_value = "9s",
+        value_parser = humantime::parse_duration,
         conflicts_with = "inventory"
     )]
-    timeout: u64,
+    timeout: std::time::Duration,
 
     /// The repository to perform the synchronizing for [default: cwd]
     rid: Option<RepoId>,
@@ -146,7 +148,7 @@ impl SyncArgs {
     }
 
     fn timeout(&self) -> time::Duration {
-        time::Duration::from_secs(self.timeout)
+        self.timeout
     }
 
     fn replication(&self) -> sync::ReplicationFactor {
diff --git a/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/watch/args.rs b/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/watch/args.rs
index a67f011b..23b21b3d 100644
--- a/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/watch/args.rs
+++ b/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/watch/args.rs
@@ -43,8 +43,10 @@ pub struct Args {
     interval: u64,
 
     /// Timeout, in milliseconds
-    #[arg(long, value_name = "MILLIS")]
-    timeout: Option<u64>,
+    ///
+    /// Valid arguments are for example "10s", "5min" or "2h 37min"
+    #[arg(long, value_parser = humantime::parse_duration)]
+    timeout: Option<std::time::Duration>,
 }
 
 impl Args {
@@ -55,7 +57,8 @@ impl Args {
 
     /// Provide the timeout duration in milliseconds.
     pub(super) fn timeout(&self) -> time::Duration {
-        time::Duration::from_millis(self.timeout.unwrap_or(u64::MAX))
+        self.timeout
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| time::Duration::from_millis(u64::MAX))
     }
 }