diff --git a/ocaml/xapi/xapi_globs.ml b/ocaml/xapi/xapi_globs.ml
index c31ed490a0d..9e5f7ead872 100644
--- a/ocaml/xapi/xapi_globs.ml
+++ b/ocaml/xapi/xapi_globs.ml
@@ -951,7 +951,12 @@ let ignore_vtpm_unimplemented = ref false
 
 let evacuation_batch_size = ref 10
 
-type xapi_globs_spec_ty = Float of float ref | Int of int ref
+type 'a xapi_globs_spec =
+  | Float of float ref
+  | Int of int ref
+  | ShortDurationFromSeconds of Mtime.Span.t ref
+      (** From float, max of 104 days *)
+  | LongDurationFromSeconds of Mtime.Span.t ref  (** From int *)
 
 let extauth_ad_backend = ref "winbind"
 
@@ -1120,13 +1125,41 @@ let options_of_xapi_globs_spec =
   List.map
     (fun (name, ty) ->
       ( name
-      , (match ty with Float x -> Arg.Set_float x | Int x -> Arg.Set_int x)
+      , ( match ty with
+        | Float x ->
+            Arg.Set_float x
+        | Int x ->
+            Arg.Set_int x
+        | ShortDurationFromSeconds x ->
+            Arg.Float
+              (fun y ->
+                match Clock.Timer.s_to_span y with
+                | Some y ->
+                    x := y
+                | None ->
+                    D.warn
+                      "Ignoring argument '%s', invalid float being used: %f. \
+                       (it only allows durations of less than 104 days)"
+                      name y
+              )
+        | LongDurationFromSeconds x ->
+            Arg.Int (fun y -> x := Mtime.Span.(y * s))
+        )
       , (fun () ->
           match ty with
           | Float x ->
               string_of_float !x
           | Int x ->
               string_of_int !x
+          | ShortDurationFromSeconds x ->
+              let literal =
+                Mtime.Span.to_uint64_ns !x |> fun ns ->
+                Int64.div ns 1_000_000_000L |> Int64.to_int |> string_of_int
+              in
+              Fmt.str "%s (%a)" literal Mtime.Span.pp !x
+          | LongDurationFromSeconds x ->
+              let literal = Clock.Timer.span_to_s !x |> string_of_float in
+              Fmt.str "%s (%a)" literal Mtime.Span.pp !x
         )
       , Printf.sprintf "Set the value of '%s'" name
       )