diff --git a/libtransmission/peer-mgr.c b/libtransmission/peer-mgr.c
index 82442d536..46e1ee83d 100644
--- a/libtransmission/peer-mgr.c
+++ b/libtransmission/peer-mgr.c
@@ -90,11 +90,11 @@ enum
     RECONNECT_PERIOD_MSEC = (2 * 1000),
 
     /* max # of peers to ask fer per torrent per reconnect pulse */
-    MAX_RECONNECTIONS_PER_PULSE = 8,
+    MAX_RECONNECTIONS_PER_PULSE = 4,
 
     /* max number of peers to ask for per second overall.
      * this throttle is to avoid overloading the router */
-    MAX_CONNECTIONS_PER_SECOND = 32,
+    MAX_CONNECTIONS_PER_SECOND = 16,
 
     /* corresponds to ut_pex's added.f flags */
     ADDED_F_ENCRYPTION_FLAG = 1,