diff --git a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_global_gc.erl b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_global_gc.erl
index b52711964..9449efe9a 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_global_gc.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_global_gc.erl
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ code_change(_OldVsn, State, _Extra) ->
 ensure_timer(State) ->
     case emqx_config:get([node, global_gc_interval]) of
         undefined -> State;
-        Interval  -> TRef = emqx_misc:start_timer(timer:seconds(Interval), run),
+        Interval  -> TRef = emqx_misc:start_timer(Interval, run),
                      State#{timer := TRef}
     end.
 
diff --git a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_global_gc_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_global_gc_SUITE.erl
index 643e5dd0d..dcdeeae57 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_global_gc_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_global_gc_SUITE.erl
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 all() -> emqx_ct:all(?MODULE).
 
 t_run_gc(_) ->
-    ok = emqx_config:put([node, global_gc_interval], 1),
+    ok = emqx_config:put([node, global_gc_interval], 1000),
     {ok, _} = emqx_global_gc:start_link(),
     ok = timer:sleep(1500),
     {ok, MilliSecs} = emqx_global_gc:run(),