diff --git a/test/test-stress.c b/test/test-stress.c
index f60cda10..08406ec7 100644
--- a/test/test-stress.c
+++ b/test/test-stress.c
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ terms of the MIT license.
 
 // argument defaults
 static int THREADS = 32;    // more repeatable if THREADS <= #processors
-static int N       = 40;    // scaling factor
+static int N       = 20;    // scaling factor
 
 // static int THREADS = 8;    // more repeatable if THREADS <= #processors
 // static int N       = 100;  // scaling factor