diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index e1a1cf4f..1013f344 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 * New `{.num}` and `{.bytes}` inline styles to format numbers
   and bytes (@m-muecke, #644, #588, #643).
 
+* `pb_elapsed` rounds to the closest second when the elapsed time exceeds
+  one minute (@mcol, #751).
+
 # cli 3.6.5
 
 * `code_highlight()` supports long strings and symbols
diff --git a/R/time.R b/R/time.R
index d56454e6..ece967a2 100644
--- a/R/time.R
+++ b/R/time.R
@@ -44,12 +44,15 @@ format_time <- local({
           return(NA_character_)
         }
 
+        ## round to the closest second if the elapsed time exceeds one minute
+        digits <- if (sum(pieces[1:3])) 0 else 1
+
         ## handle non-NAs
         paste0(
           if (pieces[1]) paste0(pieces[1], "d "),
           if (pieces[2]) paste0(pieces[2], "h "),
           if (pieces[3]) paste0(pieces[3], "m "),
-          if (pieces[4]) paste0(pieces[4], "s ")
+          if (pieces[4]) paste0(round(pieces[4], digits), "s ")
         )
       }
       approx <- trim(apply(parsed, 2, merge_pieces))
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/progress-variables.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/progress-variables.md
index 9e62b73a..fc192572 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/progress-variables.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/progress-variables.md
@@ -112,6 +112,27 @@
     Output
       [1] "1h 5m"
 
+---
+
+    Code
+      cli__pb_elapsed()
+    Output
+      [1] "1h 4m 13s"
+
+---
+
+    Code
+      cli__pb_elapsed()
+    Output
+      [1] "1h 4m 19s"
+
+---
+
+    Code
+      cli__pb_elapsed()
+    Output
+      [1] "58.1s"
+
 # pb_elapsed_clock
 
     Code
@@ -140,6 +161,27 @@
     Output
       [1] "01:05:00"
 
+---
+
+    Code
+      cli__pb_elapsed_clock()
+    Output
+      [1] "00:00:58.1"
+
+---
+
+    Code
+      cli__pb_elapsed_clock()
+    Output
+      [1] "01:04:13.2"
+
+---
+
+    Code
+      cli__pb_elapsed_clock()
+    Output
+      [1] "01:04:18.6"
+
 # pb_elapsed_raw
 
     Code
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-progress-variables.R b/tests/testthat/test-progress-variables.R
index def768bf..2afbc851 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-progress-variables.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-progress-variables.R
@@ -58,6 +58,16 @@ test_that("pb_elapsed", {
   expect_snapshot(cli__pb_elapsed())
   local_mocked_bindings(.Call = function(...) 60 * 65)
   expect_snapshot(cli__pb_elapsed())
+
+  ## seconds should get rounded
+  local_mocked_bindings(.Call = function(...) 60 * 64.22)
+  expect_snapshot(cli__pb_elapsed())
+  local_mocked_bindings(.Call = function(...) 60 * 64.31)
+  expect_snapshot(cli__pb_elapsed())
+
+  ## seconds should not get rounded
+  local_mocked_bindings(.Call = function(...) 58.1)
+  expect_snapshot(cli__pb_elapsed())
 })
 
 test_that("pb_elapsed_clock", {
@@ -71,6 +81,14 @@ test_that("pb_elapsed_clock", {
   expect_snapshot(cli__pb_elapsed_clock())
   local_mocked_bindings(.Call = function(...) 60 * 65)
   expect_snapshot(cli__pb_elapsed_clock())
+
+  ## seconds should not get rounded
+  local_mocked_bindings(.Call = function(...) 58.1)
+  expect_snapshot(cli__pb_elapsed_clock())
+  local_mocked_bindings(.Call = function(...) 60 * 64.22)
+  expect_snapshot(cli__pb_elapsed_clock())
+  local_mocked_bindings(.Call = function(...) 60 * 64.31)
+  expect_snapshot(cli__pb_elapsed_clock())
 })
 
 test_that("pb_elapsed_raw", {