diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+## 0.3.7.0
+* Read `release-format` and `keep-releases` from the configuration file.
+
 ## 0.3.6.1
 * Loose upper bound for yaml 0.11
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -72,6 +72,14 @@
   necessary. The platform where Hapistrano is running won't affect the
   available options for commands (g.e. A Mac deploying to a Ubuntu machine,
   doesn't need this flag)
+* `release_format` - The release timestamp format, the
+  '--release-format' argument passed via the CLI takes precedence over this
+  value. If neither CLI or configuration file value is specified, it defaults
+  to 'short'
+* `keep_releases` - The number of releases to keep, the
+  '--keep-releases' argument passed via the CLI takes precedence over this
+  value. If neither CLI or configuration file value is specified, it defaults
+  to '5'
 * `run_locally:`- Instructions to run locally on your machine in the
   form of shell commands. Example:
 
@@ -175,7 +183,7 @@
 
 ## Docker
 
-If you would like to use Docker, there is a lightweight image 
+If you would like to use Docker, there is a lightweight image
 available on [Docker Hub](https://hub.docker.com/r/stackbuilders/hapistrano/).
 
 ## License
diff --git a/app/Config.hs b/app/Config.hs
--- a/app/Config.hs
+++ b/app/Config.hs
@@ -14,9 +14,11 @@
 import           Data.List                  (nubBy)
 import           Data.Maybe                 (maybeToList)
 import           Data.Yaml
+import           Numeric.Natural
 import           Path
 import           System.Hapistrano.Commands
-import           System.Hapistrano.Types    (TargetSystem (..))
+import           System.Hapistrano.Types    (ReleaseFormat (..),
+                                             TargetSystem (..))
 
 -- | Hapistrano configuration typically loaded from @hap.yaml@ file.
 
@@ -46,6 +48,14 @@
   , configTargetSystem   :: !TargetSystem
   -- ^ Optional parameter to specify the target system. It's GNU/Linux by
   -- default
+  , configReleaseFormat  :: !(Maybe ReleaseFormat)
+  -- ^ The release timestamp format, the '--release-format' argument passed via
+  -- the CLI takes precedence over this value. If neither CLI or configuration
+  -- file value is specified, it defaults to short
+  , configKeepReleases   :: !(Maybe Natural)
+  -- ^ The number of releases to keep, the '--keep-releases' argument passed via
+  -- the CLI takes precedence over this value. If neither CLI or configuration
+  -- file value is specified, it defaults to 5
   } deriving (Eq, Ord, Show)
 
 -- | Information about source and destination locations of a file\/directory
@@ -78,6 +88,8 @@
     configRunLocally  <- o .:? "run_locally" >>=
       maybe (return Nothing) (fmap Just . mapM mkCmd)
     configTargetSystem <- o .:? "linux" .!= GNULinux
+    configReleaseFormat <- o .:? "release_format"
+    configKeepReleases <- o .:? "keep_releases"
     return Config {..}
 
 instance FromJSON CopyThing where
diff --git a/app/Main.hs b/app/Main.hs
--- a/app/Main.hs
+++ b/app/Main.hs
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 -- | Command to execute and command-specific options.
 
 data Command
-  = Deploy ReleaseFormat Natural -- ^ Deploy a new release (with timestamp
+  = Deploy (Maybe ReleaseFormat) (Maybe Natural) -- ^ Deploy a new release (with timestamp
     -- format and how many releases to keep)
   | Rollback Natural -- ^ Rollback to Nth previous release
 
@@ -77,17 +77,20 @@
 
 deployParser :: Parser Command
 deployParser = Deploy
-  <$> option pReleaseFormat
-  ( long "release-format"
-  <> short 'r'
-  <> value ReleaseShort
-  <> help "Which format release timestamp format to use: ‘long’ or ‘short’, default is ‘short’." )
-  <*> option auto
-  ( long "keep-releases"
-  <> short 'k'
-  <> value 5
-  <> showDefault
-  <> help "How many releases to keep" )
+  <$> optional
+        ( option pReleaseFormat
+            ( long "release-format"
+            <> short 'r'
+            <> help "Which format release timestamp format to use: ‘long’ or ‘short’, default is ‘short’."
+            )
+        )
+  <*> optional
+        ( option auto
+            ( long "keep-releases"
+            <> short 'k'
+            <> help "How many releases to keep, default is '5'"
+            )
+        )
 
 rollbackParser :: Parser Command
 rollbackParser = Rollback
@@ -130,7 +133,9 @@
       hap sshOpts =  do
         r <- Hap.runHapistrano sshOpts printFnc $
           case optsCommand of
-            Deploy releaseFormat n -> do
+            Deploy cliReleaseFormat cliKeepReleases -> do
+              let releaseFormat = fromMaybeReleaseFormat cliReleaseFormat configReleaseFormat
+                  keepReleases = fromMaybeKeepReleases cliKeepReleases configKeepReleases
               forM_ configRunLocally Hap.playScriptLocally
               release <- case configVcAction of
                            True -> Hap.pushRelease (task releaseFormat)
@@ -151,7 +156,7 @@
               forM_ configBuildScript (Hap.playScript configDeployPath release)
               Hap.registerReleaseAsComplete configDeployPath release
               Hap.activateRelease configTargetSystem configDeployPath release
-              Hap.dropOldReleases configDeployPath n
+              Hap.dropOldReleases configDeployPath keepReleases
               forM_ configRestartCommand Hap.exec
             Rollback n -> do
               Hap.rollback configTargetSystem configDeployPath n
diff --git a/hapistrano.cabal b/hapistrano.cabal
--- a/hapistrano.cabal
+++ b/hapistrano.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:                hapistrano
-version:             0.3.6.1
+version:             0.3.7.0
 synopsis:            A deployment library for Haskell applications
 description:
   .
@@ -50,7 +50,8 @@
                      , System.Hapistrano.Commands
                      , System.Hapistrano.Core
                      , System.Hapistrano.Types
-  build-depends:       base               >= 4.8 && < 5.0
+  build-depends:       aeson              >= 0.11 && < 1.5
+                     , base               >= 4.8 && < 5.0
                      , filepath           >= 1.2 && < 1.5
                      , formatting         >= 6.2 && < 7.0
                      , gitrev             >= 1.2 && < 1.4
@@ -104,6 +105,7 @@
                      , path               >= 0.5 && < 0.7
                      , path-io            >= 1.2 && < 1.5
                      , process            >= 1.4 && < 1.7
+                     , QuickCheck         >= 2.5.1 && < 3.0
                      , temporary          >= 1.1 && < 1.4
   if flag(dev)
     ghc-options:       -threaded -rtsopts -with-rtsopts=-N -Wall -Werror
diff --git a/spec/System/HapistranoSpec.hs b/spec/System/HapistranoSpec.hs
--- a/spec/System/HapistranoSpec.hs
+++ b/spec/System/HapistranoSpec.hs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 import           Control.Monad
 import           Control.Monad.Reader
 import           Data.Maybe                 (catMaybes)
+import           Numeric.Natural
 import           Path
 import           Path.IO
 import qualified System.Hapistrano          as Hap
@@ -17,6 +18,8 @@
 import           System.IO
 import           Test.Hspec                 hiding (shouldBe, shouldReturn)
 import qualified Test.Hspec                 as Hspec
+import           Test.Hspec.QuickCheck
+import           Test.QuickCheck
 
 testBranchName :: String
 testBranchName = "another_branch"
@@ -36,6 +39,48 @@
         , "cabal install --only-dependencies -j"
         , "cabal build -j" ]
 
+  describe "fromMaybeReleaseFormat" $ do
+    context "when the command line value is present" $ do
+      context "and the config file value is present" $
+        prop "returns the command line value" $
+          forAll ((,) <$> arbitraryReleaseFormat <*> arbitraryReleaseFormat) $
+            \(rf1, rf2) -> fromMaybeReleaseFormat (Just rf1) (Just rf2) `Hspec.shouldBe` rf1
+
+      context "and the config file value is not present" $
+        prop "returns the command line value" $ forAll arbitraryReleaseFormat $ \rf ->
+          fromMaybeReleaseFormat (Just rf) Nothing `Hspec.shouldBe` rf
+
+    context "when the command line value is not present" $ do
+      context "and the config file value is present" $
+        prop "returns the config file value" $ forAll arbitraryReleaseFormat $ \rf ->
+          fromMaybeReleaseFormat Nothing (Just rf) `Hspec.shouldBe` rf
+
+      context "and the config file value is not present" $
+        it "returns the default value" $
+          fromMaybeReleaseFormat Nothing Nothing `Hspec.shouldBe` ReleaseShort
+
+
+  describe "fromMaybeKeepReleases" $ do
+    context "when the command line value is present" $ do
+      context "and the config file value is present" $
+        prop "returns the command line value" $
+          forAll ((,) <$> arbitraryKeepReleases <*> arbitraryKeepReleases) $
+            \(kr1, kr2) -> fromMaybeKeepReleases (Just kr1) (Just kr2) `Hspec.shouldBe` kr1
+
+      context "and the second value is not present" $
+        prop "returns the command line value" $ forAll arbitraryKeepReleases $ \kr ->
+          fromMaybeKeepReleases (Just kr) Nothing `Hspec.shouldBe` kr
+
+    context "when the command line value is not present" $ do
+      context "and the config file value is present" $
+        prop "returns the config file value" $ forAll arbitraryKeepReleases $ \kr ->
+          fromMaybeKeepReleases Nothing (Just kr) `Hspec.shouldBe` kr
+
+      context "and the config file value is not present" $
+        it "returns the default value" $
+          fromMaybeKeepReleases Nothing Nothing `Hspec.shouldBe` 5
+
+
   around withSandbox $ do
     describe "pushRelease" $ do
       it "sets up repo all right" $ \(deployPath, repoPath) -> runHap $ do
@@ -227,3 +272,9 @@
 currentSystem = if os == "linux"
                 then GNULinux
                 else BSD
+
+arbitraryReleaseFormat :: Gen ReleaseFormat
+arbitraryReleaseFormat = elements [ReleaseShort, ReleaseLong]
+
+arbitraryKeepReleases :: Gen Natural
+arbitraryKeepReleases = fromInteger . getPositive  <$> arbitrary
diff --git a/src/System/Hapistrano/Types.hs b/src/System/Hapistrano/Types.hs
--- a/src/System/Hapistrano/Types.hs
+++ b/src/System/Hapistrano/Types.hs
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 --
 -- Type definitions for the Hapistrano tool.
 
+{-# LANGUAGE OverloadedStrings #-}
+
 module System.Hapistrano.Types
   ( Hapistrano
   , Failure (..)
@@ -22,13 +24,18 @@
   , mkRelease
   , releaseTime
   , renderRelease
-  , parseRelease )
+  , parseRelease
+  , fromMaybeReleaseFormat
+  , fromMaybeKeepReleases )
 where
 
 import           Control.Applicative
 import           Control.Monad.Except
 import           Control.Monad.Reader
+import           Data.Aeson
+import           Data.Maybe
 import           Data.Time
+import           Numeric.Natural
 import           Path
 
 -- | Hapistrano monad.
@@ -68,6 +75,13 @@
   | ReleaseLong  -- ^ Long release path including picoseconds
   deriving (Show, Read, Eq, Ord, Enum, Bounded)
 
+instance FromJSON ReleaseFormat where
+  parseJSON = withText "release format" $ \t ->
+    case t of
+      "short" -> return ReleaseShort
+      "long"  -> return ReleaseLong
+      _       -> fail "expected 'short' or 'long'"
+
 -- | SSH options.
 
 data SshOptions = SshOptions
@@ -124,3 +138,16 @@
 releaseFormatShort, releaseFormatLong :: String
 releaseFormatShort = "%Y%m%d%H%M%S"
 releaseFormatLong  = "%Y%m%d%H%M%S%q"
+
+-- | Get release format based on the CLI and file configuration values.
+
+fromMaybeReleaseFormat :: Maybe ReleaseFormat -> Maybe ReleaseFormat -> ReleaseFormat
+fromMaybeReleaseFormat cliRF configRF = fromMaybe ReleaseShort (cliRF <|> configRF)
+
+-- | Get keep releases based on the CLI and file configuration values.
+
+fromMaybeKeepReleases :: Maybe Natural -> Maybe Natural -> Natural
+fromMaybeKeepReleases cliKR configKR = fromMaybe defaultKeepReleases (cliKR <|> configKR)
+
+defaultKeepReleases :: Natural
+defaultKeepReleases = 5