diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index d71010a..66e424a 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 var transition bool
+var softCutDuration float64
 
 /*
  * checkStdin checks if any data has been passed in through stdin and returns
@@ -156,7 +157,7 @@ func milkbucket(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 	}
 	defer sdl.Quit()
 
-	m, err := newMilkDropWindow(800, 600, args)
+	m, err := newMilkDropWindow(800, 600, args, softCutDuration)
 	if err != nil {
 		cobra.CheckErr(err)
 	}
@@ -203,4 +204,5 @@ func init() {
 	// Cobra also supports local flags, which will only run
 	// when this action is called directly.
 	rootCmd.Flags().BoolVarP(&transition, "transition", "t", false, "smoothly transition between presets")
+	rootCmd.Flags().Float64VarP(&softCutDuration, "soft-cut-duration", "s", 3, "time in seconds for a soft transition between two presets (use with --transition)")
 }
diff --git a/cmd/window.go b/cmd/window.go
index b2fa4fa..5339ef7 100644
--- a/cmd/window.go
+++ b/cmd/window.go
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func (m *milkDropWindow) prevPreset(smooth bool) {
  * newMilkDropWindow returns a new milkDropWindow with the given width and
  * height, and sets presets available to the window.
  */
-func newMilkDropWindow(width, height int32, presets []string) (*milkDropWindow, error) {
+func newMilkDropWindow(width, height int32, presets []string, softCutDuration float64) (*milkDropWindow, error) {
 	var m milkDropWindow
 	var err error
 
@@ -111,6 +111,8 @@ func newMilkDropWindow(width, height int32, presets []string) (*milkDropWindow,
 
 	C.projectm_set_window_size(m.handle, C.ulong(width), C.ulong(height))
 
+	C.projectm_set_soft_cut_duration(m.handle, C.double(softCutDuration))
+
 	return &m, nil
 }