diff --git a/fdbserver/Knobs.cpp b/fdbserver/Knobs.cpp
index ee5cd8d574..76758345c1 100644
--- a/fdbserver/Knobs.cpp
+++ b/fdbserver/Knobs.cpp
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ ServerKnobs::ServerKnobs(bool randomize, ClientKnobs* clientKnobs) {
 	init( START_TRANSACTION_BATCH_INTERVAL_LATENCY_FRACTION,     0.5 );
 	init( START_TRANSACTION_BATCH_INTERVAL_SMOOTHER_ALPHA,       0.1 );
 	init( START_TRANSACTION_BATCH_QUEUE_CHECK_INTERVAL,        0.001 );
-	init( START_TRANSACTION_MAX_TRANSACTIONS_TO_START,        500000 );
+	init( START_TRANSACTION_MAX_TRANSACTIONS_TO_START,        100000 );
 	init( START_TRANSACTION_MAX_REQUESTS_TO_START,             10000 );
 
 	init( COMMIT_TRANSACTION_BATCH_INTERVAL_FROM_IDLE,         0.0005 ); if( randomize && BUGGIFY ) COMMIT_TRANSACTION_BATCH_INTERVAL_FROM_IDLE = 0.005;