diff --git a/src/include/rt-utils.h b/src/include/rt-utils.h
index ef0f6acf4ab5..866262685d62 100644
--- a/src/include/rt-utils.h
+++ b/src/include/rt-utils.h
@@ -24,4 +24,7 @@ uint32_t string_to_policy(const char *str);
 
 pid_t gettid(void);
 
+long int parse_num(const char *str, int base, size_t *len);
+long int parse_time(const char *str);
+
 #endif	/* __RT_UTILS.H */
diff --git a/src/lib/rt-utils.c b/src/lib/rt-utils.c
index ac6878ccacf1..438af228f9d9 100644
--- a/src/lib/rt-utils.c
+++ b/src/lib/rt-utils.c
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include <sched.h>
 #include <stdarg.h>
 #include <errno.h>
+#include <ctype.h>
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
@@ -320,3 +321,62 @@ pid_t gettid(void)
 {
 	return syscall(SYS_gettid);
 }
+
+long int parse_num(const char *str, int base, size_t *len)
+{
+	long int ret;
+	char *endptr;
+
+	errno = 0;
+	ret = strtol(str, &endptr, base);
+	if (errno)
+		return -errno;
+	if (ret < 0)
+		return -ERANGE;
+
+	if (len)
+		*len = endptr - str;
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Return time in seconds
+ */
+long int parse_time(const char *str)
+{
+	long int time;
+	size_t len;
+	int factor = 1;
+	char c, *buf;
+
+	len = strlen(str);
+	if (len < 1)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
+	c = tolower(str[len-1]);
+	switch (c) {
+	case 'd': factor *= 60 * 60 * 24; break;
+	case 'h': factor *= 60 * 60; break;
+	case 'm': factor *= 60; break;
+	case 's': break;
+	default:
+		if (isalpha(c))
+			return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	buf = strdup(str);
+	if (!buf)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
+	if (factor > 1)
+		buf[len - 1] = '\0';
+
+	time = parse_num(buf, 10, &len);
+	free(buf);
+
+	if (time < 0)
+		return time;
+
+	return time * factor;
+}
diff --git a/src/pmqtest/pmqtest.c b/src/pmqtest/pmqtest.c
index 75d5ee8185a0..f36903983c4a 100644
--- a/src/pmqtest/pmqtest.c
+++ b/src/pmqtest/pmqtest.c
@@ -252,6 +252,7 @@ static void display_help(void)
 	"-f TO    --forcetimeout=TO force timeout of mq_timedreceive(), requires -T\n"
 	"-i INTV  --interval=INTV   base interval of thread in us default=1000\n"
 	"-l LOOPS --loops=LOOPS     number of loops: default=0(endless)\n"
+	"-r TIME  --runtime=TIME    execute the test for TIME\n"
 	"-p PRIO  --prio=PRIO       priority\n"
 	"-S       --smp             SMP testing: options -a -t and same priority\n"
         "                           of all threads\n"
@@ -271,6 +272,7 @@ static int tracelimit;
 static int priority;
 static int num_threads = 1;
 static int max_cycles;
+static int runtime;
 static int interval = 1000;
 static int distance = 500;
 static int smp;
@@ -293,6 +295,7 @@ static void process_options (int argc, char *argv[])
 			{"forcetimeout", required_argument, NULL, 'f'},
 			{"interval", required_argument, NULL, 'i'},
 			{"loops", required_argument, NULL, 'l'},
+			{"runtime", required_argument, NULL, 'r'},
 			{"priority", required_argument, NULL, 'p'},
 			{"smp", no_argument, NULL, 'S'},
 			{"threads", optional_argument, NULL, 't'},
@@ -325,6 +328,7 @@ static void process_options (int argc, char *argv[])
 		case 'f': forcetimeout = atoi(optarg); break;
 		case 'i': interval = atoi(optarg); break;
 		case 'l': max_cycles = atoi(optarg); break;
+		case 'r': runtime = parse_time(optarg); break;
 		case 'p': priority = atoi(optarg); break;
 		case 'S':
 			smp = 1;
@@ -369,7 +373,10 @@ static void process_options (int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	if (forcetimeout && !timeout)
 		error = 1;
- 
+
+	if (runtime < 0)
+		error = 1;
+
 	if (priority && smp)
 		sameprio = 1;
 
@@ -418,10 +425,15 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	sigemptyset(&sigset);
 	sigaddset(&sigset, SIGTERM);
 	sigaddset(&sigset, SIGINT);
+	sigaddset(&sigset, SIGALRM);
 	pthread_sigmask(SIG_SETMASK, &sigset, NULL);
 
 	signal(SIGINT, sighand);
 	signal(SIGTERM, sighand);
+	signal(SIGALRM, sighand);
+
+	if (runtime)
+		alarm(runtime);
 
 	receiver = calloc(num_threads, sizeof(struct params));
 	sender = calloc(num_threads, sizeof(struct params));
diff --git a/src/ptsematest/ptsematest.c b/src/ptsematest/ptsematest.c
index a31c745ec928..74d20e2e5cbd 100644
--- a/src/ptsematest/ptsematest.c
+++ b/src/ptsematest/ptsematest.c
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ static void display_help(void)
 	"-d DIST  --distance=DIST   distance of thread intervals in us default=500\n"
 	"-i INTV  --interval=INTV   base interval of thread in us default=1000\n"
 	"-l LOOPS --loops=LOOPS     number of loops: default=0(endless)\n"
+	"-r TIME  --runtime=TIME    execute test for TIME. Valid postfixes 's', 'm', 'h', 'd'\n"
 	"-p PRIO  --prio=PRIO       priority\n"
 	"-S       --smp             SMP testing: options -a -t and same priority\n"
         "                           of all threads\n"
@@ -190,6 +191,7 @@ static int tracelimit;
 static int priority;
 static int num_threads = 1;
 static int max_cycles;
+static int runtime;
 static int interval = 1000;
 static int distance = 500;
 static int smp;
@@ -209,13 +211,14 @@ static void process_options (int argc, char *argv[])
 			{"distance", required_argument, NULL, 'd'},
 			{"interval", required_argument, NULL, 'i'},
 			{"loops", required_argument, NULL, 'l'},
+			{"runtime", required_argument, NULL, 'r'},
 			{"priority", required_argument, NULL, 'p'},
 			{"smp", no_argument, NULL, 'S'},
 			{"threads", optional_argument, NULL, 't'},
 			{"help", no_argument, NULL, '?'},
 			{NULL, 0, NULL, 0}
 		};
-		int c = getopt_long (argc, argv, "a::b:d:i:l:p:St::",
+		int c = getopt_long (argc, argv, "a::b:d:i:l:r:p:St::",
 			long_options, &option_index);
 		if (c == -1)
 			break;
@@ -239,6 +242,7 @@ static void process_options (int argc, char *argv[])
 		case 'd': distance = atoi(optarg); break;
 		case 'i': interval = atoi(optarg); break;
 		case 'l': max_cycles = atoi(optarg); break;
+		case 'r': runtime = parse_time(optarg); break;
 		case 'p': priority = atoi(optarg); break;
 		case 'S':
 			smp = 1;
@@ -280,6 +284,9 @@ static void process_options (int argc, char *argv[])
 	if (num_threads < 1)
 		error = 1;
 
+	if (runtime < 0)
+		error = 1;
+
 	if (priority && smp)
 		sameprio = 1;
 
@@ -317,6 +324,10 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	signal(SIGINT, sighand);
 	signal(SIGTERM, sighand);
+	signal(SIGALRM, sighand);
+
+	if (runtime)
+		alarm(runtime);
 
 	receiver = calloc(num_threads, sizeof(struct params));
 	sender = calloc(num_threads, sizeof(struct params));
diff --git a/src/signaltest/signaltest.c b/src/signaltest/signaltest.c
index 59f979ec5ad1..4d22a78eb84f 100644
--- a/src/signaltest/signaltest.c
+++ b/src/signaltest/signaltest.c
@@ -208,6 +208,7 @@ static void display_help(void)
 		"signaltest <options>\n\n"
 		"-b USEC  --breaktrace=USEC send break trace command when latency > USEC\n"
 		"-l LOOPS --loops=LOOPS     number of loops: default=0(endless)\n"
+		"-r TIME  --runtime=TIME    execute test for TIME. Valid postfixes 's', 'm', 'h', 'd'\n"
 		"-p PRIO  --prio=PRIO       priority of highest prio thread\n"
 		"-q       --quiet           print a summary only on exit\n"
 		"-t NUM   --threads=NUM     number of threads: default=2\n"
@@ -221,6 +222,7 @@ static void display_help(void)
 static int priority;
 static int num_threads = 2;
 static int max_cycles;
+static int runtime;
 static int verbose;
 static int quiet;
 static int lockall = 0;
@@ -235,6 +237,7 @@ static void process_options (int argc, char *argv[])
 		static struct option long_options[] = {
 			{"breaktrace", required_argument, NULL, 'b'},
 			{"loops", required_argument, NULL, 'l'},
+			{"runtime", required_argument, NULL, 'r'},
 			{"priority", required_argument, NULL, 'p'},
 			{"quiet", no_argument, NULL, 'q'},
 			{"threads", required_argument, NULL, 't'},
@@ -243,13 +246,14 @@ static void process_options (int argc, char *argv[])
 			{"help", no_argument, NULL, '?'},
 			{NULL, 0, NULL, 0}
 		};
-		int c = getopt_long (argc, argv, "b:c:d:i:l:np:qrsmt:v",
+		int c = getopt_long (argc, argv, "b:c:d:i:l:r:np:qrsmt:v",
 			long_options, &option_index);
 		if (c == -1)
 			break;
 		switch (c) {
 		case 'b': tracelimit = atoi(optarg); break;
 		case 'l': max_cycles = atoi(optarg); break;
+		case 'r': runtime = parse_time(optarg); break;
 		case 'p': priority = atoi(optarg); break;
 		case 'q': quiet = 1; break;
 		case 't': num_threads = atoi(optarg); break;
@@ -265,6 +269,9 @@ static void process_options (int argc, char *argv[])
 	if (num_threads < 2)
 		error = 1;
 
+	if (runtime < 0)
+		error = 1;
+
 	if (error)
 		display_help ();
 }
@@ -340,6 +347,10 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	signal(SIGINT, sighand);
 	signal(SIGTERM, sighand);
+	signal(SIGALRM, sighand);
+
+	if (runtime)
+		alarm(runtime);
 
 	par = calloc(num_threads, sizeof(struct thread_param));
 	if (!par)
diff --git a/src/sigwaittest/sigwaittest.c b/src/sigwaittest/sigwaittest.c
index 91fcdaa5f185..7f0aee6d7c99 100644
--- a/src/sigwaittest/sigwaittest.c
+++ b/src/sigwaittest/sigwaittest.c
@@ -222,6 +222,7 @@ static void display_help(void)
 	"-f       --fork            fork new processes instead of creating threads\n"
 	"-i INTV  --interval=INTV   base interval of thread in us default=1000\n"
 	"-l LOOPS --loops=LOOPS     number of loops: default=0(endless)\n"
+	"-r TIME  --runtime=TIME    execute test for TIME. Valid postfixes 's', 'm', 'h', 'd'\n"
 	"-p PRIO  --prio=PRIO       priority\n"
 	"-t       --threads         one thread per available processor\n"
 	"-t [NUM] --threads=NUM     number of threads:\n"
@@ -236,6 +237,7 @@ static int affinity;
 static int priority;
 static int num_threads = 1;
 static int max_cycles;
+static int runtime;
 static int interval = 1000;
 static int distance = 500;
 
@@ -255,12 +257,13 @@ static void process_options (int argc, char *argv[])
 			{"fork", optional_argument, NULL, 'f'},
 			{"interval", required_argument, NULL, 'i'},
 			{"loops", required_argument, NULL, 'l'},
+			{"runtime", required_argument, NULL, 'r'},
 			{"priority", required_argument, NULL, 'p'},
 			{"threads", optional_argument, NULL, 't'},
 			{"help", no_argument, NULL, '?'},
 			{NULL, 0, NULL, 0}
 		};
-		int c = getopt_long (argc, argv, "a::b:d:f::i:l:p:t::",
+		int c = getopt_long (argc, argv, "a::b:d:f::i:l:r:p:t::",
 			long_options, &option_index);
 		if (c == -1)
 			break;
@@ -291,6 +294,7 @@ static void process_options (int argc, char *argv[])
 			break;
 		case 'i': interval = atoi(optarg); break;
 		case 'l': max_cycles = atoi(optarg); break;
+		case 'r': runtime = parse_time(optarg); break;
 		case 'p': priority = atoi(optarg); break;
 		case 't':
 			if (optarg != NULL)
@@ -322,6 +326,9 @@ static void process_options (int argc, char *argv[])
 		if (priority < 0 || priority > 99)
 			error = 1;
 
+		if (runtime < 0)
+			error = 1;
+
 		tracelimit = thistracelimit;
 	}
 	if (error)
@@ -433,9 +440,13 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	signal(SIGINT, sighand);
 	signal(SIGTERM, sighand);
+	signal(SIGALRM, sighand);
 	sigemptyset(&sigset);
 	pthread_sigmask(SIG_SETMASK, &sigset, NULL);
 
+	if (runtime)
+		alarm(runtime);
+
 	if (!mustfork && !wasforked) {
 		receiver = calloc(num_threads, sizeof(struct params));
 		sender = calloc(num_threads, sizeof(struct params));
@@ -578,6 +589,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		sigemptyset(&sigset);
 		sigaddset(&sigset, SIGTERM);
 		sigaddset(&sigset, SIGINT);
+		sigaddset(&sigset, SIGALRM);
 		pthread_sigmask(SIG_SETMASK, &sigset, NULL);
 
 		nanosleep(&maindelay, NULL);
diff --git a/src/svsematest/svsematest.c b/src/svsematest/svsematest.c
index eeb82858720a..d87869c67e85 100644
--- a/src/svsematest/svsematest.c
+++ b/src/svsematest/svsematest.c
@@ -248,6 +248,7 @@ static void display_help(void)
 	"-f       --fork            fork new processes instead of creating threads\n"
 	"-i INTV  --interval=INTV   base interval of thread in us default=1000\n"
 	"-l LOOPS --loops=LOOPS     number of loops: default=0(endless)\n"
+	"-r TIME  --runtime=TIME    execute the test for TIME\n"
 	"-p PRIO  --prio=PRIO       priority\n"
 	"-S       --smp             SMP testing: options -a -t and same priority\n"
         "                           of all threads\n"
@@ -264,6 +265,7 @@ static int affinity;
 static int priority;
 static int num_threads = 1;
 static int max_cycles;
+static int runtime;
 static int interval = 1000;
 static int distance = 500;
 static int smp;
@@ -285,13 +287,14 @@ static void process_options (int argc, char *argv[])
 			{"fork", optional_argument, NULL, 'f'},
 			{"interval", required_argument, NULL, 'i'},
 			{"loops", required_argument, NULL, 'l'},
+			{"runtime", required_argument, NULL, 'r'},
 			{"priority", required_argument, NULL, 'p'},
 			{"smp", no_argument, NULL, 'S'},
 			{"threads", optional_argument, NULL, 't'},
 			{"help", no_argument, NULL, '?'},
 			{NULL, 0, NULL, 0}
 		};
-		int c = getopt_long (argc, argv, "a::b:d:f::i:l:p:St::",
+		int c = getopt_long (argc, argv, "a::b:d:f::i:l:r:p:St::",
 			long_options, &option_index);
 		if (c == -1)
 			break;
@@ -326,6 +329,7 @@ static void process_options (int argc, char *argv[])
 			break;
 		case 'i': interval = atoi(optarg); break;
 		case 'l': max_cycles = atoi(optarg); break;
+		case 'r': runtime = parse_time(optarg); break;
 		case 'p': priority = atoi(optarg); break;
 		case 'S':
 			smp = 1;
@@ -486,10 +490,14 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	signal(SIGINT, sighand);
 	signal(SIGTERM, sighand);
+	signal(SIGALRM, sighand);
 
 	sigemptyset(&sigset);
 	pthread_sigmask(SIG_SETMASK, &sigset, NULL);
 
+	if (runtime)
+		alarm(runtime);
+
 	if (!mustfork && !wasforked) {
 		receiver = calloc(num_threads, sizeof(struct params));
 		sender = calloc(num_threads, sizeof(struct params));
@@ -663,6 +671,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		sigemptyset(&sigset);
 		sigaddset(&sigset, SIGTERM);
 		sigaddset(&sigset, SIGINT);
+		sigaddset(&sigset, SIGALRM);
 		pthread_sigmask(SIG_SETMASK, &sigset, NULL);
 
 		nanosleep(&maindelay, NULL);
