diff --git a/freqtrade/misc.py b/freqtrade/misc.py
index cf2db1004..0512330d9 100644
--- a/freqtrade/misc.py
+++ b/freqtrade/misc.py
@@ -218,7 +218,6 @@ def backtesting_options(parser: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> None:
         '-i', '--ticker-interval',
         help='specify ticker interval in minutes (1, 5, 30, 60, 1440)',
         dest='ticker_interval',
-        default=5,
         type=int,
         metavar='INT',
     )
@@ -269,9 +268,8 @@ def hyperopt_options(parser: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> None:
     )
     parser.add_argument(
         '-i', '--ticker-interval',
-        help='specify ticker interval in minutes (default: 5)',
+        help='specify ticker interval in minutes (1, 5, 30, 60, 1440)',
         dest='ticker_interval',
-        default=5,
         type=int,
         metavar='INT',
     )
diff --git a/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py b/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
index e8fcec875..fafa6e17b 100644
--- a/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
+++ b/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
@@ -169,22 +169,34 @@ def start(args):
 
     logger.info('Using config: %s ...', args.config)
     config = misc.load_config(args.config)
-    ticker_interval = config.get('ticker_interval', args.ticker_interval)
-    logger.info('Using ticker_interval: %s ...', ticker_interval)
+
+    # If -i/--ticker-interval is use we override the configuration parameter
+    # (that will override the strategy configuration)
+    if args.ticker_interval:
+        config.update({'ticker_interval': args.ticker_interval})
+
+    # init the strategy to use
+    config.update({'strategy': args.strategy})
+    strategy = Strategy()
+    strategy.init(config)
+
+    logger.info('Using ticker_interval: %d ...', strategy.ticker_interval)
 
     data = {}
     pairs = config['exchange']['pair_whitelist']
     if args.live:
         logger.info('Downloading data for all pairs in whitelist ...')
         for pair in pairs:
-            data[pair] = exchange.get_ticker_history(pair, ticker_interval)
+            data[pair] = exchange.get_ticker_history(pair, strategy.ticker_interval)
     else:
         logger.info('Using local backtesting data (using whitelist in given config) ...')
         logger.info('Using stake_currency: %s ...', config['stake_currency'])
         logger.info('Using stake_amount: %s ...', config['stake_amount'])
 
         timerange = misc.parse_timerange(args.timerange)
-        data = optimize.load_data(args.datadir, pairs=pairs, ticker_interval=args.ticker_interval,
+        data = optimize.load_data(args.datadir,
+                                  pairs=pairs,
+                                  ticker_interval=strategy.ticker_interval,
                                   refresh_pairs=args.refresh_pairs,
                                   timerange=timerange)
     max_open_trades = 0
@@ -192,11 +204,6 @@ def start(args):
         logger.info('Using max_open_trades: %s ...', config['max_open_trades'])
         max_open_trades = config['max_open_trades']
 
-    # init the strategy to use
-    config.update({'strategy': args.strategy})
-    strategy = Strategy()
-    strategy.init(config)
-
     # Monkey patch config
     from freqtrade import main
     main._CONF = config
diff --git a/freqtrade/tests/test_main.py b/freqtrade/tests/test_main.py
index ba7f8108f..7727f5924 100644
--- a/freqtrade/tests/test_main.py
+++ b/freqtrade/tests/test_main.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ def test_parse_args_backtesting(mocker):
     assert call_args.loglevel == 20
     assert call_args.subparser == 'backtesting'
     assert call_args.func is not None
-    assert call_args.ticker_interval == 5
+    assert call_args.ticker_interval == None
 
 
 def test_main_start_hyperopt(mocker):