diff --git a/pymongo/common.py b/pymongo/common.py
index 638c67fadc..b2e80313bf 100644
--- a/pymongo/common.py
+++ b/pymongo/common.py
@@ -60,23 +60,23 @@ def validate_basestring(option, value):
                     "instance of basestring" % (option,))
 
 
+# jounal is an alias for j,
+# wtimeoutms is an alias for wtimeout
 VALIDATORS = { 
     'replicaset': validate_basestring,
     'slaveok': validate_boolean,
     'safe': validate_boolean,
     'w': validate_integer,
     'wtimeout': validate_integer,
+    'wtimeoutms': validate_integer,
     'fsync': validate_boolean,
     'j': validate_boolean,
+    'journal': validate_boolean,
     'maxpoolsize': validate_integer,
 }
 
 
 UNSUPPORTED = frozenset([
-    'connect',
-    'minpoolsize',
-    'waitqueuetimeoutms',
-    'waitqueuemultiple',
     'connecttimeoutms',
     'sockettimeoutms'
 ])
@@ -85,8 +85,10 @@ def validate_basestring(option, value):
 SAFE_OPTIONS = frozenset([
     'w',
     'wtimeout',
+    'wtimeoutms',
     'fsync',
-    'j'
+    'j',
+    'journal'
 ])
 
 
@@ -124,7 +126,12 @@ def _set_options(self, **options):
             elif option == 'safe':
                 self.safe = value
             elif option in SAFE_OPTIONS:
-                self.__set_safe_option(option, value)
+                if option == 'journal':
+                    self.__set_safe_option('j', value)
+                elif option == 'wtimeoutms':
+                    self.__set_safe_option('wtimeout', value)
+                else:
+                    self.__set_safe_option(option, value)
 
     def __get_slave_okay(self):
         """Is it OK to perform queries on a secondary or slave?
diff --git a/pymongo/connection.py b/pymongo/connection.py
index 184be24516..b8e6976eb7 100644
--- a/pymongo/connection.py
+++ b/pymongo/connection.py
@@ -218,8 +218,8 @@ def __init__(self, host=None, port=None, max_pool_size=10,
           - `slave_okay` or `slaveok`: Is it OK to perform queries if
             this connection is to a secondary?
           - `safe`: Use getlasterror for each write operation?
-          - `j`: Block until write operations have been commited to the
-            journal. Ignored if the server is running without journaling.
+          - `j` or `journal`: Block until write operations have been commited
+            to the journal. Ignored if the server is running without journaling.
             Implies safe=True.
           - `w`: If this is a replica set the server won't return until
             write operations have replicated to this many set members.
diff --git a/test/test_common.py b/test/test_common.py
index 346ecfc49d..df93e8f715 100644
--- a/test/test_common.py
+++ b/test/test_common.py
@@ -59,6 +59,12 @@ def test_baseobject(self):
         cursor = coll.find(slave_okay=False)
         self.assertFalse(cursor._Cursor__slave_okay)
 
+        c = Connection('mongodb://localhost:27017/?'
+                       'w=2;wtimeoutMS=300;fsync=true;journal=true')
+        self.assertTrue(c.safe)
+        d = {'w': 2, 'wtimeout': 300, 'fsync': True, 'j': True}
+        self.assertEqual(d, c.get_lasterror_options())
+
         c = Connection('mongodb://localhost:27017/?'
                        'slaveok=true;w=1;wtimeout=300;fsync=true;j=true')
         self.assertTrue(c.slave_okay)
diff --git a/test/test_uri_parser.py b/test/test_uri_parser.py
index e5bb3b17dc..97bad0f64f 100644
--- a/test/test_uri_parser.py
+++ b/test/test_uri_parser.py
@@ -73,12 +73,6 @@ def test_split_hosts(self):
     def test_split_options(self):
         # This should remind us to write tests for these if
         # they are ever supported.
-        self.assertRaises(UnsupportedOption, split_options,
-                          'minPoolSize=5')
-        self.assertRaises(UnsupportedOption, split_options,
-                          'waitQueueTimeoutMS=500')
-        self.assertRaises(UnsupportedOption, split_options,
-                          'waitQueueMultiple=5')
         self.assertRaises(UnsupportedOption, split_options,
                           'connectTimeoutMS=500')
         self.assertRaises(UnsupportedOption, split_options,