diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a247076..48aa51c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -91,7 +91,8 @@ If you plan to use the `RUNNER_OUTFD_PID` and `RUNNER_OUTFD_STD[OUT|ERR]` variab
   - Can also be set by the `RUNNER_LOG_DIR` environment variable; this flag overrides the environment variable.
 - `-print-if-match value`: Print/mail output if the given (**case-sensitive**) string appears in the program's output, even if it was a healthy exit. May be specified multiple times.
 - `-print-if-not-match value`: Print/mail output if the given (**case-sensitive**) string does not appear in the program's output, even if it was a healthy exit. May be specified multiple times.
-- `-retries int`: If the command fails, retry it this many times.
+- `-retries int`: If the command fails, retry it this many times. (default: `0`)
+- `-retry-delay int`: If the command fails, wait this many seconds before retrying. (default: `0`)
 - `-version`: Print version and exit.
 - `-work-dir string`: Set the working directory for the program.
 
diff --git a/runner.go b/runner.go
index aa32291..a09ea1e 100644
--- a/runner.go
+++ b/runner.go
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ func main() {
 		fmt.Sprintf("Can also be set by the %s environment variable; this flag overrides the environment variable.", LogDirEnvVar))
 	workDir := flag.String("work-dir", "", "Set the working directory for the program.")
 	retries := flag.Int("retries", 0, "If the command fails, retry it this many times.")
+	retryDelayInt := flag.Int("retry-delay", 0, "If the command fails, wait this many seconds before retrying.")
 	asUser := flag.String("user", "", "Run the program as the given user. Ignored on Windows. "+
 		"(If provided, runner must be run as root or with CAP_SETUID and CAP_SETGID.)")
 	asUID := flag.Int("uid", -1, "Run the program as the given UID. Ignored on Windows. "+
@@ -229,7 +230,10 @@ func main() {
 
 	for triesRemaining > 0 {
 		if *retries > 0 && triesRemaining != 1+*retries {
-			programOutput = programOutput + "\n- Retrying -\n\n"
+			if *retryDelayInt > 0 {
+				time.Sleep(time.Duration(*retryDelayInt) * time.Second)
+			}
+			programOutput = programOutput + fmt.Sprintf("\n- Retrying after %d seconds -\n\n", *retryDelayInt)
 		}
 		triesRemaining--