diff --git a/cmd/influx_stress/influx_stress.go b/cmd/influx_stress/influx_stress.go
index b9b39d28f0..1185dbee30 100644
--- a/cmd/influx_stress/influx_stress.go
+++ b/cmd/influx_stress/influx_stress.go
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import (
 var (
 	config     = flag.String("config", "", "The stress test file")
 	cpuprofile = flag.String("cpuprofile", "", "Write the cpu profile to `filename`")
-	db         = flag.String("db", "", "name of the database where the stress test will take place")
+	db         = flag.String("db", "", "target database within test system for write and query load")
 )
 
 func main() {
diff --git a/stress/basic.go b/stress/basic.go
index b8dc32682f..ad82f1292c 100644
--- a/stress/basic.go
+++ b/stress/basic.go
@@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ func (o *outputConfig) HTTPHandler(method string) func(r <-chan response, rt *Ti
 			tags := o.tags
 			tags["method"] = method
 			fields := map[string]interface{}{
-				"response_time": p.Timer.Elapsed(),
+				"response_time": float64(p.Timer.Elapsed()),
 			}
 			pt, _ := client.NewPoint("performance", tags, fields, p.Time)
 			bp.AddPoint(pt)