diff --git a/src/main/java/io/appium/java_client/InteractsWithApps.java b/src/main/java/io/appium/java_client/InteractsWithApps.java
index f0624db4a..202360e22 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/appium/java_client/InteractsWithApps.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/appium/java_client/InteractsWithApps.java
@@ -95,13 +95,14 @@ default void resetApp() {
 
     /**
      * Runs the current app as a background app for the time
-     * requested. This is a synchronous method, it returns after the back has
-     * been returned to the foreground.
+     * requested. This is a synchronous method, it blocks while the
+     * application is in background.
      *
-     * @param duration The time to run App in background. Minimum time resolution is one second
+     * @param duration The time to run App in background. Minimum time resolution is one millisecond.
+     *                 Passing zero or a negative value will switch to Home screen and return immediately.
      */
     default void runAppInBackground(Duration duration) {
-        execute(RUN_APP_IN_BACKGROUND, ImmutableMap.of("seconds", duration.getSeconds()));
+        execute(RUN_APP_IN_BACKGROUND, ImmutableMap.of("seconds", duration.toMillis() / 1000.0));
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/appium/java_client/ios/IOSDriver.java b/src/main/java/io/appium/java_client/ios/IOSDriver.java
index 1d668c5de..229aac70b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/appium/java_client/ios/IOSDriver.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/appium/java_client/ios/IOSDriver.java
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 
 package io.appium.java_client.ios;
 
-import static io.appium.java_client.MobileCommand.RUN_APP_IN_BACKGROUND;
 import static io.appium.java_client.MobileCommand.prepareArguments;
 import static org.openqa.selenium.remote.DriverCommand.EXECUTE_SCRIPT;
 
@@ -43,7 +42,6 @@
 import org.openqa.selenium.remote.http.HttpClient;
 
 import java.net.URL;
-import java.time.Duration;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.Map;
 
@@ -169,19 +167,6 @@ public IOSDriver(Capabilities desiredCapabilities) {
         super(updateDefaultPlatformName(desiredCapabilities, IOS_DEFAULT_PLATFORM));
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Runs the current app as a background app for the number of seconds
-     * or minimizes the app.
-     *
-     * @param duration The time to run App in background.
-     */
-    @Override public void runAppInBackground(Duration duration) {
-        // timeout parameter is expected to be in milliseconds
-        // float values are allowed
-        execute(RUN_APP_IN_BACKGROUND,
-                prepareArguments("seconds", prepareArguments("timeout", duration.toMillis())));
-    }
-
     @Override public TargetLocator switchTo() {
         return new InnerTargetLocator();
     }