diff --git a/cmd/check.go b/cmd/check.go
index 25e4254650..2706850098 100644
--- a/cmd/check.go
+++ b/cmd/check.go
@@ -14,10 +14,11 @@ import (
 	"tidbyt.dev/pixlet/manifest"
 )
 
-const MaxRenderTime = 1000000000 // 1000ms
+var maxRenderTime = time.Duration(1 * time.Second)
 
 func init() {
 	CheckCmd.Flags().BoolVarP(&rflag, "recursive", "r", false, "find apps recursively")
+	CheckCmd.Flags().DurationVarP(&maxRenderTime, "max-render-time", "", maxRenderTime, "override the default max render time")
 }
 
 var CheckCmd = &cobra.Command{
@@ -137,9 +138,9 @@ func checkCmd(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("could not profile app: %w", err)
 		}
-		if p.DurationNanos > MaxRenderTime {
+		if p.DurationNanos > maxRenderTime.Nanoseconds() {
 			foundIssue = true
-			failure(app, fmt.Errorf("app takes too long to render %s", time.Duration(p.DurationNanos)), fmt.Sprintf("try optimizing your app using `pixlet profile %s` to get it under %s", app, time.Duration(MaxRenderTime)))
+			failure(app, fmt.Errorf("app takes too long to render %s", time.Duration(p.DurationNanos)), fmt.Sprintf("try optimizing your app using `pixlet profile %s` to get it under %s", app, maxRenderTime))
 			continue
 		}