diff --git a/lib/cli/parse.js b/lib/cli/parse.js
index 560cc715..419093d5 100644
--- a/lib/cli/parse.js
+++ b/lib/cli/parse.js
@@ -217,6 +217,10 @@ function parseDelay(value) {
   var millisPerSecond = 1000;
   var millis = 0;
 
+  if (typeof value !== 'string') {
+    return 0;
+  }
+
   if (value.match(/^\d*ms$/)) {
     // Explicitly parse for milliseconds when using ms time specifier
     millis = parseInt(value, 10);
diff --git a/test/cli/parse.test.js b/test/cli/parse.test.js
index 2b79971f..4eadd04e 100644
--- a/test/cli/parse.test.js
+++ b/test/cli/parse.test.js
@@ -373,6 +373,11 @@ describe('nodemon with CoffeeScript', function () {
 });
 
 describe('nodemon --delay argument', function () {
+  it('should support missing value gracefully', function () {
+    var settings = cli.parse('node nodemon --delay');
+    assert(settings.delay === 0, 'delay 0 seconds');
+  });
+
   it('should support an integer value', function () {
     var settings = cli.parse('node nodemon --delay 5');
     assert(settings.delay === 5000, 'delay 5 seconds');