diff --git a/src/etc/rc.firmware b/src/etc/rc.firmware
index c933b9cbb..fc54fa95d 100755
--- a/src/etc/rc.firmware
+++ b/src/etc/rc.firmware
@@ -27,6 +27,6 @@
 
 SUBR=/usr/local/etc/rc.firmware.subr
 
-if ! /usr/local/opnsense/scripts/firmware/launcher.sh ${SUBR} "${@}"; then
+if ! /usr/local/opnsense/scripts/firmware/launcher.sh -s ${SUBR} "${@}"; then
 	echo "A firmware action is currently in progress."
 fi
diff --git a/src/opnsense/scripts/firmware/launcher.sh b/src/opnsense/scripts/firmware/launcher.sh
index d8f617c75..c696f5fe0 100755
--- a/src/opnsense/scripts/firmware/launcher.sh
+++ b/src/opnsense/scripts/firmware/launcher.sh
@@ -43,8 +43,39 @@ update
 upgrade
 "
 
-SELECTED=${1}
-shift
+DO_RANDOM=
+DO_SCRIPT=
+
+while getopts r:s: OPT; do
+	case ${OPT} in
+	r)
+		DO_RANDOM="-r $(jot -r 1 1 ${OPTARG})"
+		;;
+	s)
+		# make sure the script exists
+		if [ ! -f "${OPTARG}" ]; then
+			exit 1
+		fi
+		DO_SCRIPT="-s ${OPTARG}"
+		;;
+	*)
+		# ignore unknown
+		;;
+	esac
+done
+
+shift $((${OPTIND} - 1))
+
+if [ -n "${DO_SCRIPT}" ]; then
+	SELECTED=${DO_SCRIPT#"-s "}
+else
+	SELECTED=${1}
+	shift
+fi
+
+if [ -n "${DO_RANDOM}" ]; then
+	sleep ${DO_RANDOM#"-r "}
+fi
 
 if [ -f "${SELECTED}" ]; then
 	${FLOCK} ${LOCKFILE} ${SELECTED} "${@}"
diff --git a/src/opnsense/service/conf/actions.d/actions_firmware.conf b/src/opnsense/service/conf/actions.d/actions_firmware.conf
index 8a4d19947..cdf0c01fe 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/service/conf/actions.d/actions_firmware.conf
+++ b/src/opnsense/service/conf/actions.d/actions_firmware.conf
@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@ command:/usr/local/opnsense/scripts/firmware/launcher.sh check
 parameters:%s
 type:script
 message:Running firmware update status
+
+[poll]
+command:/usr/local/opnsense/scripts/firmware/launcher.sh -r 1500 check
+parameters:%s
+type:script
+message:Running firmware update status via cron
 description:Firmware update check
 
 [flush]
@@ -200,8 +206,8 @@ type:script
 message:issued firmware power off
 
 [auto-update]
-command:/usr/local/etc/rc.firmware
+command:/usr/local/etc/rc.firmware -r 1500
 description:Automatic firmware update
 parameters:%s
 type:script
-message:attempting automatic firmware update
+message:Attempting automatic firmware update via cron