diff --git a/cinder/volume/drivers/vmware/vmdk.py b/cinder/volume/drivers/vmware/vmdk.py
index 14b039fb96d..0a90d6f2445 100644
--- a/cinder/volume/drivers/vmware/vmdk.py
+++ b/cinder/volume/drivers/vmware/vmdk.py
@@ -70,10 +70,10 @@ vmdk_opts = [
                default=10,
                help='Number of times VMware ESX/VC server API must be '
                     'retried upon connection related issues.'),
-    cfg.IntOpt('vmware_task_poll_interval',
-               default=5,
-               help='The interval (in seconds) for polling remote tasks '
-                    'invoked on VMware ESX/VC server.'),
+    cfg.FloatOpt('vmware_task_poll_interval',
+                 default=0.5,
+                 help='The interval (in seconds) for polling remote tasks '
+                      'invoked on VMware ESX/VC server.'),
     cfg.StrOpt('vmware_volume_folder',
                default='cinder-volumes',
                help='Name for the folder in the VC datacenter that will '
diff --git a/etc/cinder/cinder.conf.sample b/etc/cinder/cinder.conf.sample
index beb1f178763..3f8b4284c0f 100644
--- a/etc/cinder/cinder.conf.sample
+++ b/etc/cinder/cinder.conf.sample
@@ -1808,8 +1808,8 @@
 #vmware_api_retry_count=10
 
 # The interval (in seconds) for polling remote tasks invoked
-# on VMware ESX/VC server. (integer value)
-#vmware_task_poll_interval=5
+# on VMware ESX/VC server. (floating point value)
+#vmware_task_poll_interval=0.5
 
 # Name for the folder in the VC datacenter that will contain
 # cinder volumes. (string value)