diff --git a/cmd/lotus-miner/init.go b/cmd/lotus-miner/init.go
index 1b76960e9..1a4a98fc4 100644
--- a/cmd/lotus-miner/init.go
+++ b/cmd/lotus-miner/init.go
@@ -120,6 +120,11 @@ var initCmd = &cli.Command{
 			Name:  "from",
 			Usage: "select which address to send actor creation message from",
 		},
+		&cli.Uint64Flag{
+			Name:  "confidence",
+			Usage: "number of block confirmations to wait for",
+			Value: build.MessageConfidence,
+		},
 	},
 	Subcommands: []*cli.Command{
 		restoreCmd,
@@ -146,6 +151,8 @@ var initCmd = &cli.Command{
 			return xerrors.Errorf("failed to parse gas-price flag: %s", err)
 		}
 
+		confidence := cctx.Uint64("confidence")
+
 		symlink := cctx.Bool("symlink-imported-sectors")
 		if symlink {
 			log.Info("will attempt to symlink to imported sectors")
@@ -265,7 +272,7 @@ var initCmd = &cli.Command{
 			}
 		}
 
-		if err := storageMinerInit(ctx, cctx, api, r, ssize, gasPrice); err != nil {
+		if err := storageMinerInit(ctx, cctx, api, r, ssize, gasPrice, confidence); err != nil {
 			log.Errorf("Failed to initialize lotus-miner: %+v", err)
 			path, err := homedir.Expand(repoPath)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -414,7 +421,7 @@ func findMarketDealID(ctx context.Context, api v1api.FullNode, deal markettypes.
 	return 0, xerrors.New("deal not found")
 }
 
-func storageMinerInit(ctx context.Context, cctx *cli.Context, api v1api.FullNode, r repo.Repo, ssize abi.SectorSize, gasPrice types.BigInt) error {
+func storageMinerInit(ctx context.Context, cctx *cli.Context, api v1api.FullNode, r repo.Repo, ssize abi.SectorSize, gasPrice types.BigInt, confidence uint64) error {
 	lr, err := r.Lock(repo.StorageMiner)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -501,7 +508,7 @@ func storageMinerInit(ctx context.Context, cctx *cli.Context, api v1api.FullNode
 					return xerrors.Errorf("failed to start up genesis miner: %w", err)
 				}
 
-				cerr := configureStorageMiner(ctx, api, a, peerid, gasPrice)
+				cerr := configureStorageMiner(ctx, api, a, peerid, gasPrice, confidence)
 
 				if err := m.Stop(ctx); err != nil {
 					log.Error("failed to shut down miner: ", err)
@@ -541,13 +548,13 @@ func storageMinerInit(ctx context.Context, cctx *cli.Context, api v1api.FullNode
 			}
 		}
 
-		if err := configureStorageMiner(ctx, api, a, peerid, gasPrice); err != nil {
+		if err := configureStorageMiner(ctx, api, a, peerid, gasPrice, confidence); err != nil {
 			return xerrors.Errorf("failed to configure miner: %w", err)
 		}
 
 		addr = a
 	} else {
-		a, err := createStorageMiner(ctx, api, ssize, peerid, gasPrice, cctx)
+		a, err := createStorageMiner(ctx, api, ssize, peerid, gasPrice, confidence, cctx)
 		if err != nil {
 			return xerrors.Errorf("creating miner failed: %w", err)
 		}
@@ -589,7 +596,7 @@ func makeHostKey(lr repo.LockedRepo) (crypto.PrivKey, error) {
 	return pk, nil
 }
 
-func configureStorageMiner(ctx context.Context, api v1api.FullNode, addr address.Address, peerid peer.ID, gasPrice types.BigInt) error {
+func configureStorageMiner(ctx context.Context, api v1api.FullNode, addr address.Address, peerid peer.ID, gasPrice types.BigInt, confidence uint64) error {
 	mi, err := api.StateMinerInfo(ctx, addr, types.EmptyTSK)
 	if err != nil {
 		return xerrors.Errorf("getWorkerAddr returned bad address: %w", err)
@@ -615,7 +622,7 @@ func configureStorageMiner(ctx context.Context, api v1api.FullNode, addr address
 	}
 
 	log.Info("Waiting for message: ", smsg.Cid())
-	ret, err := api.StateWaitMsg(ctx, smsg.Cid(), build.MessageConfidence, lapi.LookbackNoLimit, true)
+	ret, err := api.StateWaitMsg(ctx, smsg.Cid(), confidence, lapi.LookbackNoLimit, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -627,7 +634,7 @@ func configureStorageMiner(ctx context.Context, api v1api.FullNode, addr address
 	return nil
 }
 
-func createStorageMiner(ctx context.Context, api v1api.FullNode, ssize abi.SectorSize, peerid peer.ID, gasPrice types.BigInt, cctx *cli.Context) (address.Address, error) {
+func createStorageMiner(ctx context.Context, api v1api.FullNode, ssize abi.SectorSize, peerid peer.ID, gasPrice types.BigInt, confidence uint64, cctx *cli.Context) (address.Address, error) {
 	var err error
 	var owner address.Address
 	if cctx.String("owner") != "" {
@@ -679,7 +686,7 @@ func createStorageMiner(ctx context.Context, api v1api.FullNode, ssize abi.Secto
 		log.Infof("Initializing worker account %s, message: %s", worker, signed.Cid())
 		log.Infof("Waiting for confirmation")
 
-		mw, err := api.StateWaitMsg(ctx, signed.Cid(), build.MessageConfidence, lapi.LookbackNoLimit, true)
+		mw, err := api.StateWaitMsg(ctx, signed.Cid(), confidence, lapi.LookbackNoLimit, true)
 		if err != nil {
 			return address.Undef, xerrors.Errorf("waiting for worker init: %w", err)
 		}
@@ -703,7 +710,7 @@ func createStorageMiner(ctx context.Context, api v1api.FullNode, ssize abi.Secto
 		log.Infof("Initializing owner account %s, message: %s", worker, signed.Cid())
 		log.Infof("Waiting for confirmation")
 
-		mw, err := api.StateWaitMsg(ctx, signed.Cid(), build.MessageConfidence, lapi.LookbackNoLimit, true)
+		mw, err := api.StateWaitMsg(ctx, signed.Cid(), confidence, lapi.LookbackNoLimit, true)
 		if err != nil {
 			return address.Undef, xerrors.Errorf("waiting for owner init: %w", err)
 		}
@@ -752,7 +759,7 @@ func createStorageMiner(ctx context.Context, api v1api.FullNode, ssize abi.Secto
 	log.Infof("Pushed CreateMiner message: %s", signed.Cid())
 	log.Infof("Waiting for confirmation")
 
-	mw, err := api.StateWaitMsg(ctx, signed.Cid(), build.MessageConfidence, lapi.LookbackNoLimit, true)
+	mw, err := api.StateWaitMsg(ctx, signed.Cid(), confidence, lapi.LookbackNoLimit, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return address.Undef, xerrors.Errorf("waiting for createMiner message: %w", err)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/lotus-miner/init_restore.go b/cmd/lotus-miner/init_restore.go
index 7e28729bb..272754c23 100644
--- a/cmd/lotus-miner/init_restore.go
+++ b/cmd/lotus-miner/init_restore.go
@@ -80,8 +80,7 @@ var restoreCmd = &cli.Command{
 			}
 
 			log.Info("Configuring miner actor")
-
-			if err := configureStorageMiner(ctx, api, maddr, peerid, big.Zero()); err != nil {
+			if err := configureStorageMiner(ctx, api, maddr, peerid, big.Zero(), cctx.Uint64("confidence")); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 
diff --git a/cmd/lotus-miner/init_service.go b/cmd/lotus-miner/init_service.go
index 235e4e4c8..876313941 100644
--- a/cmd/lotus-miner/init_service.go
+++ b/cmd/lotus-miner/init_service.go
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ var serviceCmd = &cli.Command{
 			if es.Contains(MarketsService) {
 				log.Info("Configuring miner actor")
 
-				if err := configureStorageMiner(ctx, api, maddr, peerid, big.Zero()); err != nil {
+				if err := configureStorageMiner(ctx, api, maddr, peerid, big.Zero(), cctx.Uint64("confidence")); err != nil {
 					return err
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/documentation/en/cli-lotus-miner.md b/documentation/en/cli-lotus-miner.md
index dbc5a6ee2..2ea89e6ce 100644
--- a/documentation/en/cli-lotus-miner.md
+++ b/documentation/en/cli-lotus-miner.md
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ OPTIONS:
    --no-local-storage                                         don't use storageminer repo for sector storage (default: false)
    --gas-premium value                                        set gas premium for initialization messages in AttoFIL (default: "0")
    --from value                                               select which address to send actor creation message from
+   --confidence value                                         number of block confirmations to wait for (default: 5)
    --help, -h                                                 show help
 ```