diff --git a/core/execution.go b/core/execution.go
index 7bb4318..d2f78b2 100644
--- a/core/execution.go
+++ b/core/execution.go
@@ -44,12 +44,11 @@ func (e *Execution) Execute() error {
 
 	err := retry(func(attempt int) (bool, error) {
 		err := e.executeTask()
-		if err != nil && attempt < e.Task.Retries {
-			retryMs := time.Duration(e.Task.RetryMs) * time.Millisecond
-			log.Debugf("%v: Failed, Retrying %v/%v in %v", displayName, attempt, e.Task.Retries, retryMs)
-			time.Sleep(retryMs)
+		if err != nil && attempt < e.Task.Retry {
+			log.Debugf("%v: Failed, Retrying %v/%v in %v", displayName, attempt, e.Task.Retry, e.Task.RetryDelay)
+			time.Sleep(e.Task.RetryDelay)
 		}
-		return attempt < e.Task.Retries, err
+		return attempt < e.Task.Retry, err
 	})
 
 	elapsed := time.Since(start)
diff --git a/core/task.go b/core/task.go
index f0203b0..194aa98 100644
--- a/core/task.go
+++ b/core/task.go
@@ -5,21 +5,24 @@ import (
 	"github.com/apex/log"
 	"strings"
 	"strconv"
+	"time"
 )
 
 type Task struct {
-	Name    string
-	Desc    string
-	Cmd     string
-	Before  string
-	After   string
-	Shell   string
-	Retries int
-	RetryMs int
+	Name       string
+	Desc       string
+	Cmd        string
+	Before     string
+	After      string
+	Shell      string
+	Retry      int
+	RetryDelay time.Duration
 }
 
+const default_delay = time.Duration(1) * time.Second
+
 func loadTaskJson(name string, json gjson.Result) Task {
-	t := Task{Retries:0,RetryMs:1000,}
+	t := Task{Retry:0, RetryDelay:default_delay,}
 	t.Name = name
 
 	if j := json.Get("desc"); j.Exists() {
@@ -37,18 +40,18 @@ func loadTaskJson(name string, json gjson.Result) Task {
 	if j := json.Get("shell"); j.Exists() {
 		t.Shell = strings.TrimSpace(j.String())
 	}
-	if j := json.Get("retries"); j.Exists() {
-		if retries, err := strconv.Atoi(strings.TrimSpace(j.String())); err != nil {
-			log.WithError(err).Warnf("invalid retries in task %s", name)
+	if j := json.Get("retry"); j.Exists() {
+		if retry, err := strconv.Atoi(strings.TrimSpace(j.String())); err != nil {
+			log.WithError(err).Warnf("invalid retry in task %s", name)
 		} else {
-			t.Retries = retries
+			t.Retry = retry
 		}
 	}
-	if j := json.Get("retry_ms"); j.Exists() {
-		if retryMs, err := strconv.Atoi(strings.TrimSpace(j.String())); err != nil {
-			log.WithError(err).Warnf("invalid retry_ms in task %s", name)
+	if j := json.Get("retry_delay"); j.Exists() {
+		if delay, err := time.ParseDuration(strings.TrimSpace(j.String())); err != nil {
+			log.WithError(err).Warnf("invalid retry_delay in task %s", name)
 		} else {
-			t.RetryMs = retryMs
+			t.RetryDelay = delay
 		}
 	}
 	return t
diff --git a/examples/retry/myke.yml b/examples/retry/myke.yml
index ee433c1..9f12ae8 100644
--- a/examples/retry/myke.yml
+++ b/examples/retry/myke.yml
@@ -4,5 +4,6 @@ desc: demonstrates use of templates and parameters in command
 tasks:
   retry:
     cmd: "false"
-    retries: 5
-    retry_ms: 10
+    retry: 5
+    # retry_delay defaults to 1s
+    retry_delay: 10ms