diff --git a/homeassistant/components/automation/state.py b/homeassistant/components/automation/state.py
index 2ddc0822cc90b8a4f84cc716dc6622a6daeacf17..b9c4164e584785eefed71d27fee94a0cc3b6b9fe 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/automation/state.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/automation/state.py
@@ -24,6 +24,32 @@ CONF_STATE = "state"
 CONF_FOR = "for"
 
 
+def get_time_config(config):
+    """ Helper function to extract the time specified in the config """
+    if CONF_FOR not in config:
+        return None
+
+    hours = config[CONF_FOR].get(CONF_HOURS)
+    minutes = config[CONF_FOR].get(CONF_MINUTES)
+    seconds = config[CONF_FOR].get(CONF_SECONDS)
+
+    if hours is None and minutes is None and seconds is None:
+        logging.getLogger(__name__).error(
+            "Received invalid value for '%s': %s",
+            config[CONF_FOR], CONF_FOR)
+        return None
+
+    if config.get(CONF_TO) is None and config.get(CONF_STATE) is None:
+        logging.getLogger(__name__).error(
+            "For: requires a to: value'%s': %s",
+            config[CONF_FOR], CONF_FOR)
+        return None
+
+    return timedelta(hours=(hours or 0.0),
+                     minutes=(minutes or 0.0),
+                     seconds=(seconds or 0.0))
+
+
 def trigger(hass, config, action):
     """ Listen for state changes based on `config`. """
     entity_id = config.get(CONF_ENTITY_ID)
@@ -31,32 +57,19 @@ def trigger(hass, config, action):
     if entity_id is None:
         logging.getLogger(__name__).error(
             "Missing trigger configuration key %s", CONF_ENTITY_ID)
-        return False
+        return None
 
     from_state = config.get(CONF_FROM, MATCH_ALL)
     to_state = config.get(CONF_TO) or config.get(CONF_STATE) or MATCH_ALL
+    time_delta = get_time_config(config)
 
     if isinstance(from_state, bool) or isinstance(to_state, bool):
         logging.getLogger(__name__).error(
             'Config error. Surround to/from values with quotes.')
-        return False
-
-    if CONF_FOR in config:
-        hours = config[CONF_FOR].get(CONF_HOURS)
-        minutes = config[CONF_FOR].get(CONF_MINUTES)
-        seconds = config[CONF_FOR].get(CONF_SECONDS)
-
-        if hours is None and minutes is None and seconds is None:
-            logging.getLogger(__name__).error(
-                "Received invalid value for '%s': %s",
-                config[CONF_FOR], CONF_FOR)
-            return False
+        return None
 
-        if config.get(CONF_TO) is None and config.get(CONF_STATE) is None:
-            logging.getLogger(__name__).error(
-                "For: requires a to: value'%s': %s",
-                config[CONF_FOR], CONF_FOR)
-            return False
+    if CONF_FOR in config and time_delta is None:
+        return None
 
     def state_automation_listener(entity, from_s, to_s):
         """ Listens for state changes and calls action. """
@@ -76,12 +89,8 @@ def trigger(hass, config, action):
             hass.bus.remove_listener(
                 EVENT_STATE_CHANGED, for_state_listener)
 
-        if CONF_FOR in config:
-            now = dt_util.now()
-            target_tm = now + timedelta(
-                hours=(hours or 0.0),
-                minutes=(minutes or 0.0),
-                seconds=(seconds or 0.0))
+        if time_delta is not None:
+            target_tm = dt_util.utcnow() + time_delta
             for_time_listener = track_point_in_time(
                 hass, state_for_listener, target_tm)
             for_state_listener = track_state_change(
@@ -107,10 +116,18 @@ def if_action(hass, config):
             CONF_STATE)
         return None
 
+    time_delta = get_time_config(config)
+    if CONF_FOR in config and time_delta is None:
+        return None
+
     state = str(state)
 
     def if_state():
         """ Test if condition. """
-        return hass.states.is_state(entity_id, state)
+        is_state = hass.states.is_state(entity_id, state)
+        return (time_delta is None and is_state or
+                time_delta is not None and
+                dt_util.utcnow() - time_delta >
+                hass.states.get(entity_id).last_changed)
 
     return if_state
diff --git a/tests/components/automation/test_state.py b/tests/components/automation/test_state.py
index 8475d284d3e1267651bb5e9d600fb8d168099485..d9c458a151dabf050679cd16b664b6e72a0037ae 100644
--- a/tests/components/automation/test_state.py
+++ b/tests/components/automation/test_state.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ Tests state automation.
 """
 import unittest
 from datetime import timedelta
+from unittest.mock import patch
 
 import homeassistant.util.dt as dt_util
 import homeassistant.components.automation as automation
@@ -423,3 +424,60 @@ class TestAutomationState(unittest.TestCase):
         fire_time_changed(self.hass, dt_util.utcnow() + timedelta(seconds=10))
         self.hass.pool.block_till_done()
         self.assertEqual(1, len(self.calls))
+
+    def test_if_fires_on_for_condition(self):
+        point1 = dt_util.utcnow()
+        point2 = point1 + timedelta(seconds=10)
+        with patch('homeassistant.core.dt_util.utcnow') as mock_utcnow:
+            mock_utcnow.return_value = point1
+            self.hass.states.set('test.entity', 'on')
+            self.assertTrue(automation.setup(self.hass, {
+                automation.DOMAIN: {
+                    'trigger': {
+                        'platform': 'event',
+                        'event_type': 'test_event',
+                    },
+                    'condition': {
+                        'platform': 'state',
+                        'entity_id': 'test.entity',
+                        'state': 'on',
+                        'for': {
+                            'seconds': 5
+                        },
+                    },
+
+                    'action': {
+                        'service': 'test.automation'
+                    }
+                }
+            }))
+
+            # not enough time has passed
+            self.hass.bus.fire('test_event')
+            self.hass.pool.block_till_done()
+            self.assertEqual(0, len(self.calls))
+
+            # Time travel 10 secs into the future
+            mock_utcnow.return_value = point2
+            self.hass.bus.fire('test_event')
+            self.hass.pool.block_till_done()
+            self.assertEqual(1, len(self.calls))
+
+    def test_if_fails_setup_for_without_time(self):
+        self.assertIsNone(state.if_action(
+            self.hass, {
+                'platform': 'state',
+                'entity_id': 'test.entity',
+                'state': 'on',
+                'for': {},
+            }))
+
+    def test_if_fails_setup_for_without_entity(self):
+        self.assertIsNone(state.if_action(
+            self.hass, {
+                'platform': 'state',
+                'state': 'on',
+                'for': {
+                    'seconds': 5
+                },
+            }))