diff --git a/lib/channel/opts.js b/lib/channel/opts.js
index 7590972d..9c7450f7 100644
--- a/lib/channel/opts.js
+++ b/lib/channel/opts.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 var ChannelModule = require("./module");
 var Config = require("../config");
+var Utilities = require ("../utilities");
 
 function OptionsModule(channel) {
     ChannelModule.apply(this, arguments);
@@ -120,7 +121,13 @@ OptionsModule.prototype.handleSetOptions = function (user, data) {
     }
 
     if ("maxlength" in data) {
-        var ml = parseInt(data.maxlength);
+        var ml = 0;
+        if (typeof data.maxlength !== "number") {
+           ml = Utilities.parseTime(data.maxlength);
+        } else {
+            ml = parseInt(data.maxlength);
+        }
+
         if (isNaN(ml) || ml < 0) {
             ml = 0;
         }
diff --git a/lib/utilities.js b/lib/utilities.js
index 6aa03738..81848173 100644
--- a/lib/utilities.js
+++ b/lib/utilities.js
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@
     },
 
     root.parseTime = function (time) {
-        var parts = time.split(":");
+        var parts = time.split(":").reverse();
         var seconds = 0;
         switch (parts.length) {
             case 3: