diff --git a/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Defaults.scala b/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Defaults.scala
index b50ddefda..58b0df1c9 100755
--- a/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Defaults.scala
+++ b/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Defaults.scala
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
  */
 package sbt
 
+import scala.concurrent.duration.Duration
 import Attributed.data
 import Scope.{ fillTaskAxis, GlobalScope, ThisScope }
 import sbt.Compiler.InputsWithPrevious
@@ -157,7 +158,7 @@ object Defaults extends BuildCommon {
     fork :== false,
     initialize :== {},
     forcegc :== sys.props.get("sbt.task.forcegc").map(java.lang.Boolean.parseBoolean).getOrElse(GCUtil.defaultForceGarbageCollection),
-    minForcegcInterval :== sys.props.get("sbt.task.minForcegcInterval").map(java.lang.Integer.parseInt).getOrElse(GCUtil.defaultMinForcegcInterval)
+    minForcegcInterval :== GCUtil.defaultMinForcegcInterval
   ))
   def defaultTestTasks(key: Scoped): Seq[Setting[_]] = inTask(key)(Seq(
     tags := Seq(Tags.Test -> 1),
diff --git a/main/src/main/scala/sbt/EvaluateTask.scala b/main/src/main/scala/sbt/EvaluateTask.scala
index 6e57f9326..6b14c04dc 100644
--- a/main/src/main/scala/sbt/EvaluateTask.scala
+++ b/main/src/main/scala/sbt/EvaluateTask.scala
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
  */
 package sbt
 
+import scala.concurrent.duration.Duration
 import java.io.File
 import Def.{ displayFull, dummyState, ScopedKey, Setting }
 import Keys.{ streams, Streams, TaskStreams }
@@ -88,9 +89,9 @@ sealed trait EvaluateTaskConfig {
   def forceGarbageCollection: Boolean
 
   /**
-   * Interval in seconds.
+   * Interval to force GC.
    */
-  def minForcegcInterval: Int
+  def minForcegcInterval: Duration
 }
 final object EvaluateTaskConfig {
   /** Pulls in the old configuration format. */
@@ -123,7 +124,7 @@ final object EvaluateTaskConfig {
     progressReporter: ExecuteProgress[Task],
     cancelStrategy: TaskCancellationStrategy,
     forceGarbageCollection: Boolean,
-    minForcegcInterval: Int): EvaluateTaskConfig = {
+    minForcegcInterval: Duration): EvaluateTaskConfig = {
     val r = restrictions
     val check = checkCycles
     val cs = cancelStrategy
@@ -230,7 +231,7 @@ object EvaluateTask {
   private[sbt] def forcegc(extracted: Extracted, structure: BuildStructure): Boolean =
     getSetting(Keys.forcegc in Global, GCUtil.defaultForceGarbageCollection, extracted, structure)
   // TODO - Should this pull from Global or from the project itself?
-  private[sbt] def minForcegcInterval(extracted: Extracted, structure: BuildStructure): Int =
+  private[sbt] def minForcegcInterval(extracted: Extracted, structure: BuildStructure): Duration =
     getSetting(Keys.minForcegcInterval in Global, GCUtil.defaultMinForcegcInterval, extracted, structure)
 
   def getSetting[T](key: SettingKey[T], default: T, extracted: Extracted, structure: BuildStructure): T =
diff --git a/main/src/main/scala/sbt/GCUtil.scala b/main/src/main/scala/sbt/GCUtil.scala
index 5dbd22a5e..cc223fd54 100644
--- a/main/src/main/scala/sbt/GCUtil.scala
+++ b/main/src/main/scala/sbt/GCUtil.scala
@@ -1,22 +1,23 @@
 package sbt
 
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicLong
+import scala.concurrent.duration._
 import scala.util.control.NonFatal
 
 private[sbt] object GCUtil {
   // Returns the default force garbage collection flag,
   // as specified by system properties.
   val defaultForceGarbageCollection: Boolean = true
-  val defaultMinForcegcInterval: Int = 60
+  val defaultMinForcegcInterval: Duration = 60.seconds
   val lastGcCheck: AtomicLong = new AtomicLong(0L)
 
-  def forceGcWithInterval(minForcegcInterval: Int, log: Logger): Unit =
+  def forceGcWithInterval(minForcegcInterval: Duration, log: Logger): Unit =
     {
       val now = System.currentTimeMillis
       val last = lastGcCheck.get
       // This throttles System.gc calls to interval
-      if (now - last > minForcegcInterval * 1000) {
-        lastGcCheck.set(now)
+      if (now - last > minForcegcInterval.toMillis) {
+        lastGcCheck.lazySet(now)
         forceGc(log)
       }
     }
diff --git a/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Keys.scala b/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Keys.scala
index 6cf2cd3bb..59faafdae 100644
--- a/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Keys.scala
+++ b/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Keys.scala
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ package sbt
 
 import java.io.File
 import java.net.URL
+import scala.concurrent.duration.Duration
 import Def.ScopedKey
 import complete._
 import inc.Analysis
@@ -342,7 +343,7 @@ object Keys {
   val concurrentRestrictions = SettingKey[Seq[Tags.Rule]]("concurrent-restrictions", "Rules describing restrictions on concurrent task execution.", BSetting)
   val cancelable = SettingKey[Boolean]("cancelable", "Enables (true) or disables (false) the ability to interrupt task execution with CTRL+C.", BMinusSetting)
   val forcegc = SettingKey[Boolean]("forcegc", "Enables (true) or disables (false) forcing garbage collection after task run when needed.", BMinusSetting)
-  val minForcegcInterval = SettingKey[Int]("min-forcegc-interval", "Minimal interval (in seconds) to check for forcing garbage collection.")
+  val minForcegcInterval = SettingKey[Duration]("min-forcegc-interval", "Minimal interval to check for forcing garbage collection.")
   val settingsData = std.FullInstance.settingsData
   val streams = TaskKey[TaskStreams]("streams", "Provides streams for logging and persisting data.", DTask)
   val taskDefinitionKey = Def.taskDefinitionKey