diff --git a/src/command/command.c b/src/command/command.c
index 8e16276b..1441ef46 100644
--- a/src/command/command.c
+++ b/src/command/command.c
@@ -620,10 +620,10 @@ static struct cmd_t command_defs[] =
 
     { "/time",
         cmd_time, parse_args, 1, 1, &cons_time_setting,
-        { "/time minutes|seconds", "Time display.",
-        { "/time minutes|seconds",
+        { "/time <format>", "Time display.",
+        { "/time <format>",
           "---------------------",
-          "Configure time precision for the main window.",
+          "Configure the time format for the main window.",
           NULL } } },
 
     { "/inpblock",
@@ -1121,7 +1121,6 @@ static Autocomplete form_ac;
 static Autocomplete form_field_multi_ac;
 static Autocomplete occupants_ac;
 static Autocomplete occupants_default_ac;
-static Autocomplete time_ac;
 static Autocomplete resource_ac;
 static Autocomplete inpblock_ac;
 
@@ -1461,15 +1460,6 @@ cmd_init(void)
     autocomplete_add(occupants_default_ac, "show");
     autocomplete_add(occupants_default_ac, "hide");
 
-    time_ac = autocomplete_new();
-    autocomplete_add(time_ac, "minutes");
-    autocomplete_add(time_ac, "seconds");
-    autocomplete_add(time_ac, "off");
-
-    time_ac = autocomplete_new();
-    autocomplete_add(time_ac, "minutes");
-    autocomplete_add(time_ac, "seconds");
-
     resource_ac = autocomplete_new();
     autocomplete_add(resource_ac, "set");
     autocomplete_add(resource_ac, "off");
@@ -1532,7 +1522,6 @@ cmd_uninit(void)
     autocomplete_free(form_field_multi_ac);
     autocomplete_free(occupants_ac);
     autocomplete_free(occupants_default_ac);
-    autocomplete_free(time_ac);
     autocomplete_free(resource_ac);
     autocomplete_free(inpblock_ac);
 }
@@ -1697,7 +1686,6 @@ cmd_reset_autocomplete()
     autocomplete_reset(form_field_multi_ac);
     autocomplete_reset(occupants_ac);
     autocomplete_reset(occupants_default_ac);
-    autocomplete_reset(time_ac);
     autocomplete_reset(resource_ac);
     autocomplete_reset(inpblock_ac);
 
@@ -2010,8 +1998,8 @@ _cmd_complete_parameters(const char * const input)
         }
     }
 
-    gchar *cmds[] = { "/help", "/prefs", "/disco", "/close", "/wins", "/subject", "/room", "/time" };
-    Autocomplete completers[] = { help_ac, prefs_ac, disco_ac, close_ac, wins_ac, subject_ac, room_ac, time_ac };
+    gchar *cmds[] = { "/help", "/prefs", "/disco", "/close", "/wins", "/subject", "/room", };
+    Autocomplete completers[] = { help_ac, prefs_ac, disco_ac, close_ac, wins_ac, subject_ac, room_ac, };
 
     for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(cmds); i++) {
         result = autocomplete_param_with_ac(input, cmds[i], completers[i], TRUE);
diff --git a/src/command/commands.c b/src/command/commands.c
index 60ef3780..02910f99 100644
--- a/src/command/commands.c
+++ b/src/command/commands.c
@@ -3257,25 +3257,10 @@ cmd_wrap(gchar **args, struct cmd_help_t help)
 gboolean
 cmd_time(gchar **args, struct cmd_help_t help)
 {
-    if (g_strcmp0(args[0], "minutes") == 0) {
-        prefs_set_string(PREF_TIME, "minutes");
-        cons_show("Time precision set to minutes.");
-        wins_resize_all();
-        return TRUE;
-    } else if (g_strcmp0(args[0], "seconds") == 0) {
-        prefs_set_string(PREF_TIME, "seconds");
-        cons_show("Time precision set to seconds.");
-        wins_resize_all();
-        return TRUE;
-    } else if (g_strcmp0(args[0], "off") == 0) {
-        prefs_set_string(PREF_TIME, "off");
-        cons_show("Time display disabled.");
-        wins_resize_all();
-        return TRUE;
-    } else {
-        cons_show("Usage: %s", help.usage);
-        return TRUE;
-    }
+    prefs_set_string(PREF_TIME, args[0]);
+    cons_show("Time format set to '%s'", args[0]);
+    wins_resize_all();
+    return TRUE;
 }
 
 gboolean
diff --git a/src/config/preferences.c b/src/config/preferences.c
index 67f12b18..652d4ed9 100644
--- a/src/config/preferences.c
+++ b/src/config/preferences.c
@@ -727,7 +727,7 @@ _get_default_string(preference_t pref)
         case PREF_ROSTER_BY:
             return "none";
         case PREF_TIME:
-            return "seconds";
+            return "%H:%M:%S";
         default:
             return NULL;
     }
diff --git a/src/ui/console.c b/src/ui/console.c
index dd50d6d3..689f218c 100644
--- a/src/ui/console.c
+++ b/src/ui/console.c
@@ -919,12 +919,10 @@ void
 cons_time_setting(void)
 {
     char *pref_time = prefs_get_string(PREF_TIME);
-    if (g_strcmp0(pref_time, "minutes") == 0)
-        cons_show("Time (/time)                  : minutes");
-    else if (g_strcmp0(pref_time, "off") == 0)
+    if (g_strcmp0(pref_time, "off") == 0)
         cons_show("Time (/time)                  : OFF");
     else
-        cons_show("Time (/time)                  : seconds");
+        cons_show("Time (/time)                  : %s", pref_time);
 
     prefs_free_string(pref_time);
 }
diff --git a/src/ui/window.c b/src/ui/window.c
index dfec5aab..7757fe39 100644
--- a/src/ui/window.c
+++ b/src/ui/window.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
+#include <time.h>
 #include <assert.h>
 
 #include <glib.h>
@@ -882,14 +883,10 @@ _win_print(ProfWin *window, const char show_char, GDateTime *time,
     if ((flags & NO_DATE) == 0) {
         gchar *date_fmt = NULL;
         char *time_pref = prefs_get_string(PREF_TIME);
-        if (g_strcmp0(time_pref, "minutes") == 0) {
-            date_fmt = g_date_time_format(time, "%H:%M");
-        } else if (g_strcmp0(time_pref, "seconds") == 0) {
-            date_fmt = g_date_time_format(time, "%H:%M:%S");
-        }
+        date_fmt = g_date_time_format(time, time_pref);
         free(time_pref);
 
-        if (date_fmt) {
+        if (date_fmt && strlen(date_fmt)) {
             if ((flags & NO_COLOUR_DATE) == 0) {
                 wattron(window->layout->win, theme_attrs(THEME_TIME));
             }