diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
index 37395c5ee..eff8fe322 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -68,8 +68,9 @@ Mandatory parameters are marked as **Required**, which means that they are requi
 | `trailing_stop_positive_offset` | Offset on when to apply `trailing_stop_positive`. Percentage value which should be positive. More details in the [stoploss documentation](stoploss.md#trailing-stop-loss-only-once-the-trade-has-reached-a-certain-offset). [Strategy Override](#parameters-in-the-strategy). <br>*Defaults to `0.0` (no offset).* <br> **Datatype:** Float
 | `trailing_only_offset_is_reached` | Only apply trailing stoploss when the offset is reached. [stoploss documentation](stoploss.md). [Strategy Override](#parameters-in-the-strategy). <br>*Defaults to `false`.*  <br> **Datatype:** Boolean
 | `fee` | Fee used during backtesting / dry-runs. Should normally not be configured, which has freqtrade fall back to the exchange default fee. Set as ratio (e.g. 0.001 = 0.1%). Fee is applied twice for each trade, once when buying, once when selling. <br> **Datatype:** Float (as ratio)
-| `unfilledtimeout.buy` | **Required.** How long (in minutes) the bot will wait for an unfilled buy order to complete, after which the order will be cancelled and repeated at current (new) price, as long as there is a signal. [Strategy Override](#parameters-in-the-strategy).<br> **Datatype:** Integer
-| `unfilledtimeout.sell` | **Required.** How long (in minutes) the bot will wait for an unfilled sell order to complete, after which the order will be cancelled and repeated at current (new) price, as long as there is a signal. [Strategy Override](#parameters-in-the-strategy).<br> **Datatype:** Integer
+| `unfilledtimeout.buy` | **Required.** How long (in minutes or seconds) the bot will wait for an unfilled buy order to complete, after which the order will be cancelled and repeated at current (new) price, as long as there is a signal. [Strategy Override](#parameters-in-the-strategy).<br> **Datatype:** Integer
+| `unfilledtimeout.sell` | **Required.** How long (in minutes or seconds) the bot will wait for an unfilled sell order to complete, after which the order will be cancelled and repeated at current (new) price, as long as there is a signal. [Strategy Override](#parameters-in-the-strategy).<br> **Datatype:** Integer
+| `unfilledtimeout.unit` | Unit to use in unfilledtimeout setting. Note: If you set unfilledtimeout.unit to "seconds", "internals.process_throttle_secs" must be inferior or equal to timeout [Strategy Override](#parameters-in-the-strategy). <br> *Defaults to `minutes`.* <br> **Datatype:** String
 | `bid_strategy.price_side` | Select the side of the spread the bot should look at to get the buy rate. [More information below](#buy-price-side).<br> *Defaults to `bid`.* <br> **Datatype:** String (either `ask` or `bid`).
 | `bid_strategy.ask_last_balance` | **Required.** Interpolate the bidding price. More information [below](#buy-price-without-orderbook-enabled).
 | `bid_strategy.use_order_book` | Enable buying using the rates in [Order Book Bids](#buy-price-with-orderbook-enabled). <br> **Datatype:** Boolean
diff --git a/freqtrade/constants.py b/freqtrade/constants.py
index bfd1e72f1..5ec60eb59 100644
--- a/freqtrade/constants.py
+++ b/freqtrade/constants.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ DEFAULT_EXCHANGE = 'bittrex'
 PROCESS_THROTTLE_SECS = 5  # sec
 HYPEROPT_EPOCH = 100  # epochs
 RETRY_TIMEOUT = 30  # sec
+TIMEOUT_UNITS = ['minutes', 'seconds']
 DEFAULT_DB_PROD_URL = 'sqlite:///tradesv3.sqlite'
 DEFAULT_DB_DRYRUN_URL = 'sqlite:///tradesv3.dryrun.sqlite'
 UNLIMITED_STAKE_AMOUNT = 'unlimited'
@@ -137,7 +138,8 @@ CONF_SCHEMA = {
             'type': 'object',
             'properties': {
                 'buy': {'type': 'number', 'minimum': 1},
-                'sell': {'type': 'number', 'minimum': 1}
+                'sell': {'type': 'number', 'minimum': 1},
+                'unit': {'type': 'string', 'enum': TIMEOUT_UNITS, 'default': 'minutes'}
             }
         },
         'bid_strategy': {
diff --git a/freqtrade/freqtradebot.py b/freqtrade/freqtradebot.py
index 0bef29dd4..fa372e6e8 100644
--- a/freqtrade/freqtradebot.py
+++ b/freqtrade/freqtradebot.py
@@ -974,8 +974,9 @@ class FreqtradeBot(LoggingMixin):
         timeout = self.config.get('unfilledtimeout', {}).get(side)
         ordertime = arrow.get(order['datetime']).datetime
         if timeout is not None:
-            timeout_threshold = arrow.utcnow().shift(minutes=-timeout).datetime
-
+            timeout_unit = self.config.get('unfilledtimeout', {}).get('unit', 'minutes')
+            timeout_kwargs = {timeout_unit: -timeout}
+            timeout_threshold = arrow.utcnow().shift(**timeout_kwargs).datetime
             return (order['status'] == 'open' and order['side'] == side
                     and ordertime < timeout_threshold)
         return False