diff --git a/system/helpers/date_helper.php b/system/helpers/date_helper.php
index 2a34cf9..70b01e3 100644
--- a/system/helpers/date_helper.php
+++ b/system/helpers/date_helper.php
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@
  */
 if ( ! function_exists('timespan'))
 {
-	function timespan($seconds = 1, $time = '')
+	function timespan($seconds = 1, $time = '', $units = '')
 	{
 		$CI =& get_instance();
 		$CI->lang->load('date');
@@ -178,24 +178,29 @@
 			$time = time();
 		}
 
+		if ( ! is_numeric($units))
+		{
+			$units = 999;
+		}
+
 		$seconds = ($time <= $seconds) ? 1 : $time - $seconds;
 
-		$str = '';
+		$str = array();
 		$years = floor($seconds / 31557600);
 
 		if ($years > 0)
 		{
-			$str .= $years.' '.$CI->lang->line((($years	> 1) ? 'date_years' : 'date_year')).', ';
+			$str[] = $years.' '.$CI->lang->line((($years	> 1) ? 'date_years' : 'date_year'));
 		}
 
 		$seconds -= $years * 31557600;
 		$months = floor($seconds / 2629743);
 
-		if ($years > 0 OR $months > 0)
+		if (count($str) < $units AND ($years > 0 OR $months > 0))
 		{
 			if ($months > 0)
 			{
-				$str .= $months.' '.$CI->lang->line((($months	> 1) ? 'date_months' : 'date_month')).', ';
+				$str[] = $months.' '.$CI->lang->line((($months	> 1) ? 'date_months' : 'date_month'));
 			}
 
 			$seconds -= $months * 2629743;
@@ -203,11 +208,11 @@
 
 		$weeks = floor($seconds / 604800);
 
-		if ($years > 0 OR $months > 0 OR $weeks > 0)
+		if (count($str) < $units AND ($years > 0 OR $months > 0 OR $weeks > 0))
 		{
 			if ($weeks > 0)
 			{
-				$str .= $weeks.' '.$CI->lang->line((($weeks	> 1) ? 'date_weeks' : 'date_week')).', ';
+				$str[] = $weeks.' '.$CI->lang->line((($weeks	> 1) ? 'date_weeks' : 'date_week'));
 			}
 
 			$seconds -= $weeks * 604800;
@@ -215,11 +220,11 @@
 
 		$days = floor($seconds / 86400);
 
-		if ($months > 0 OR $weeks > 0 OR $days > 0)
+		if (count($str) < $units AND ($months > 0 OR $weeks > 0 OR $days > 0))
 		{
 			if ($days > 0)
 			{
-				$str .= $days.' '.$CI->lang->line((($days	> 1) ? 'date_days' : 'date_day')).', ';
+				$str[] = $days.' '.$CI->lang->line((($days	> 1) ? 'date_days' : 'date_day'));
 			}
 
 			$seconds -= $days * 86400;
@@ -227,11 +232,11 @@
 
 		$hours = floor($seconds / 3600);
 
-		if ($days > 0 OR $hours > 0)
+		if (count($str) < $units AND ($days > 0 OR $hours > 0))
 		{
 			if ($hours > 0)
 			{
-				$str .= $hours.' '.$CI->lang->line((($hours	> 1) ? 'date_hours' : 'date_hour')).', ';
+				$str[] = $hours.' '.$CI->lang->line((($hours	> 1) ? 'date_hours' : 'date_hour'));
 			}
 
 			$seconds -= $hours * 3600;
@@ -239,11 +244,11 @@
 
 		$minutes = floor($seconds / 60);
 
-		if ($days > 0 OR $hours > 0 OR $minutes > 0)
+		if (count($str) < $units AND ($days > 0 OR $hours > 0 OR $minutes > 0))
 		{
 			if ($minutes > 0)
 			{
-				$str .= $minutes.' '.$CI->lang->line((($minutes	> 1) ? 'date_minutes' : 'date_minute')).', ';
+				$str[] = $minutes.' '.$CI->lang->line((($minutes	> 1) ? 'date_minutes' : 'date_minute'));
 			}
 
 			$seconds -= $minutes * 60;
@@ -251,10 +256,10 @@
 
 		if ($str == '')
 		{
-			$str .= $seconds.' '.$CI->lang->line((($seconds	> 1) ? 'date_seconds' : 'date_second')).', ';
+			$str[] = $seconds.' '.$CI->lang->line((($seconds	> 1) ? 'date_seconds' : 'date_second'));
 		}
 
-		return substr(trim($str), 0, -1);
+		return implode(', ', $str);
 	}
 }