diff --git a/planet/config.py b/planet/config.py
index cc12ecc..4743b14 100644
--- a/planet/config.py
+++ b/planet/config.py
@@ -70,6 +70,11 @@ def __init__():
         setattr(config, name, lambda default=default: get(None,name,default))
         planet_predefined_options.append(name)
 
+    # define a list planet-level variable
+    def define_planet_int(name, default=0):
+        setattr(config, name, lambda : int(get(None,name,default)))
+        planet_predefined_options.append(name)
+
     # define a list planet-level variable
     def define_planet_list(name, default=''):
         setattr(config, name, lambda : expand(get(None,name,default)))
@@ -91,7 +96,6 @@ def __init__():
     define_planet('cache_directory', "cache")
     define_planet('log_level', "WARNING")
     define_planet('log_format', "%(levelname)s:%(name)s:%(message)s")
-    define_planet('feed_timeout', 20)
     define_planet('date_format', "%B %d, %Y %I:%M %p")
     define_planet('new_date_format', "%B %d, %Y")
     define_planet('generator', 'Venus')
@@ -102,6 +106,8 @@ def __init__():
     define_planet('output_dir', 'output')
     define_planet('spider_threads', 0) 
 
+    define_planet_int('feed_timeout', 20)
+
     define_planet_list('template_files')
     define_planet_list('bill_of_materials')
     define_planet_list('template_directories', '.')
diff --git a/tests/data/config/basic.ini b/tests/data/config/basic.ini
index 842d6b3..bb6ec46 100644
--- a/tests/data/config/basic.ini
+++ b/tests/data/config/basic.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ link = http://example.com/
 template_files = index.html.tmpl atom.xml.tmpl
 items_per_page = 50
 filters = foo
+feed_timeout=30
 
 [index.html.tmpl]
 days_per_page = 7
diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
index 6021757..e21bfb6 100644
--- a/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -58,3 +58,11 @@ class ConfigTest(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_filters(self):
         self.assertEqual(['foo','bar'], config.filters('feed2'))
         self.assertEqual(['foo'], config.filters('feed1'))
+
+    # ints
+
+    def test_timeout(self):
+        self.assertEqual(30,
+            config.feed_timeout())
+
+