diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/client.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/client.rs
index 8dd4cc5601..62dd693627 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/client.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/client.rs
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ pub fn request_set_timeout(
     mut request: Request,
 ) -> Result<Request, ShellError> {
     if let Some(timeout) = timeout {
-        let val = timeout.as_i64()?;
+        let val = timeout.as_duration()?;
         if val.is_negative() || val < 1 {
             return Err(ShellError::TypeMismatch {
                 err_message: "Timeout value must be an int and larger than 0".to_string(),
@@ -533,7 +533,7 @@ pub fn request_set_timeout(
             });
         }
 
-        request = request.timeout(Duration::from_secs(val as u64));
+        request = request.timeout(Duration::from_nanos(val as u64));
     }
 
     Ok(request)
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/delete.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/delete.rs
index 27b43e2b76..b13b3846e2 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/delete.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/delete.rs
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
             )
             .named(
                 "max-time",
-                SyntaxShape::Int,
-                "timeout period in seconds",
+                SyntaxShape::Duration,
+                "max duration before timeout occurs",
                 Some('m'),
             )
             .named(
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/get.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/get.rs
index f348cc9fd6..8260f76c66 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/get.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/get.rs
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
             )
             .named(
                 "max-time",
-                SyntaxShape::Int,
-                "timeout period in seconds",
+                SyntaxShape::Duration,
+                "max duration before timeout occurs",
                 Some('m'),
             )
             .named(
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/head.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/head.rs
index 37d6c46ba9..99c77101af 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/head.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/head.rs
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
             )
             .named(
                 "max-time",
-                SyntaxShape::Int,
-                "timeout period in seconds",
+                SyntaxShape::Duration,
+                "max duration before timeout occurs",
                 Some('m'),
             )
             .named(
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/options.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/options.rs
index 5c34be4041..cd86b5349a 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/options.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/options.rs
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
             )
             .named(
                 "max-time",
-                SyntaxShape::Int,
-                "timeout period in seconds",
+                SyntaxShape::Duration,
+                "max duration before timeout occurs",
                 Some('m'),
             )
             .named(
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/patch.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/patch.rs
index eeebaf55a8..b062282b84 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/patch.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/patch.rs
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
             )
             .named(
                 "max-time",
-                SyntaxShape::Int,
-                "timeout period in seconds",
+                SyntaxShape::Duration,
+                "max duration before timeout occurs",
                 Some('m'),
             )
             .named(
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/post.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/post.rs
index f38f7aeed3..fbe780294b 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/post.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/post.rs
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
             )
             .named(
                 "max-time",
-                SyntaxShape::Int,
-                "timeout period in seconds",
+                SyntaxShape::Duration,
+                "max duration before timeout occurs",
                 Some('m'),
             )
             .named(
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/put.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/put.rs
index 0494f5ea0e..b3bf8b72d5 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/put.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/network/http/put.rs
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
             )
             .named(
                 "max-time",
-                SyntaxShape::Int,
-                "timeout period in seconds",
+                SyntaxShape::Duration,
+                "max duration before timeout occurs",
                 Some('m'),
             )
             .named(