diff --git a/src/config/ConfigGlobal.hxx b/src/config/ConfigGlobal.hxx
index ca846be27..2b6bb7ea3 100644
--- a/src/config/ConfigGlobal.hxx
+++ b/src/config/ConfigGlobal.hxx
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
 #include "ConfigOption.hxx"
 #include "Compiler.h"
 
+#include <chrono>
+
 class Path;
 class AllocatedPath;
 struct ConfigParam;
@@ -88,10 +90,30 @@ gcc_pure
 unsigned
 config_get_unsigned(enum ConfigOption option, unsigned default_value);
 
+gcc_pure
+static inline std::chrono::steady_clock::duration
+config_get_unsigned(ConfigOption option,
+		    std::chrono::steady_clock::duration default_value)
+{
+	// TODO: allow unit suffixes
+	auto u = config_get_unsigned(option, default_value.count());
+	return std::chrono::steady_clock::duration(u);
+}
+
 gcc_pure
 unsigned
 config_get_positive(enum ConfigOption option, unsigned default_value);
 
+gcc_pure
+static inline std::chrono::steady_clock::duration
+config_get_positive(ConfigOption option,
+		    std::chrono::steady_clock::duration default_value)
+{
+	// TODO: allow unit suffixes
+	auto u = config_get_positive(option, default_value.count());
+	return std::chrono::steady_clock::duration(u);
+}
+
 gcc_pure
 bool config_get_bool(enum ConfigOption option, bool default_value);