diff --git a/direct/src/showbase/PythonUtil.py b/direct/src/showbase/PythonUtil.py
index 6487d3895b..f591ac97f5 100644
--- a/direct/src/showbase/PythonUtil.py
+++ b/direct/src/showbase/PythonUtil.py
@@ -528,3 +528,22 @@ def lineupPos(i, num, spacing):
     assert i >= 0 and i < num
     pos = float(i) * spacing
     return pos - ((float(spacing) * (num-1))/2.)
+
+def formatElapsedSeconds(seconds):
+    """
+    Returns a string of the form "mm:ss" or "hh:mm:ss" or "n days",
+    representing the indicated elapsed time in seconds.
+    """
+    seconds = (int)(seconds)
+    hours = (int)(seconds / (60 * 60))
+    if hours > 36:
+        days = (int)((hours + 12) / 24)
+        return "%d days" % (days)
+    
+    seconds -= hours * (60 * 60)
+    minutes = (int)(seconds / 60)
+    seconds -= minutes * 60
+    if hours != 0:
+        return "%d:%02d:%02d" % (hours, minutes, seconds)
+    else:
+        return "%d:%02d" % (minutes, seconds)