diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 77d3d93..fdfebe3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -54,8 +54,10 @@ Options:
   --private-key TEXT             Private key needed to access VMs in case the
                                  default is not enough.
   --sequential                   Run APITest commands sequentially from a
-                                 single client.  [default: False]
-  --help                         Show this message and exit.  [default: False]
+                                 single client.
+  --idmci-lifetime INTEGER       Lifetime in hours of IdM-CI hosts.  [default:
+                                 8]
+  --help                         Show this message and exit.
 ```
 
 ## Capturing results
diff --git a/src/ipaperftest/core/constants.py b/src/ipaperftest/core/constants.py
index 1b7681b..9aa8cde 100644
--- a/src/ipaperftest/core/constants.py
+++ b/src/ipaperftest/core/constants.py
@@ -54,7 +54,9 @@ def getLevelName(level):
   - playbook: init/testrunner-dir.yaml
 - name: provision
   steps:
-  - playbook: provision/mrack-up.yaml
+  - extra_vars:
+      lifetime: {lifetime}
+    playbook: provision/mrack-up.yaml
 - name: prep
   steps:
   - playbook: prep/redhat-base.yaml
diff --git a/src/ipaperftest/core/main.py b/src/ipaperftest/core/main.py
index 78687d4..8b0a171 100644
--- a/src/ipaperftest/core/main.py
+++ b/src/ipaperftest/core/main.py
@@ -154,6 +154,11 @@ def run(self, ctx):
     help="Run APITest commands sequentially from a single client.",
     is_flag=True
 )
+@click.option(
+    "--idmci-lifetime",
+    help="Lifetime in hours of IdM-CI hosts.",
+    default=8,
+)
 @click.pass_context
 def main(
     ctx,
@@ -170,7 +175,8 @@ def main(
     results_format="json",
     results_output_file=None,
     custom_repo_url="",
-    provider="idmci"
+    provider="idmci",
+    idmci_lifetime=8,
 ):
 
     tests = RunTest(['ipaperftest.registry'])
diff --git a/src/ipaperftest/providers/idmci.py b/src/ipaperftest/providers/idmci.py
index 1f3bff7..013bc56 100644
--- a/src/ipaperftest/providers/idmci.py
+++ b/src/ipaperftest/providers/idmci.py
@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ def generate_metadata(self, ctx, machine_configs, domain):
 
         file_contents = IDMCI_METADATA_TEMPLATE.format(
             domain=domain.lower(),
-            hosts=hosts_metadata
+            hosts=hosts_metadata,
+            lifetime=ctx.params['idmci_lifetime']
         )
         with open("runner_metadata/metadata.yaml", "w") as f:
             f.write(file_contents)