--- a/bucardo
+++ b/bucardo
@@ -8755,7 +8755,8 @@ sub config {

     for my $noun (@nouns) {
         $noun =~ /(\w+)=(.+)/ or die $setusage;
-        my ($setting,$val) = (lc $1,$2);
+        my $setting = lc $1;
+        my $val = $setting eq 'log_timer_format' ? $2 : lc $2;

         if (! exists $config->{$setting}) {
             die qq{Unknown setting "$setting"\n};