diff --git a/sys/kern/subr_lock.c b/sys/kern/subr_lock.c
index 01b82fe23d48..4ac4e6bf00d6 100644
--- a/sys/kern/subr_lock.c
+++ b/sys/kern/subr_lock.c
@@ -156,8 +156,10 @@ void
 lock_delay_default_init(struct lock_delay_config *lc)
 {
 
-	lc->base = lock_roundup_2(mp_ncpus) / 4;
-	lc->max = lc->base * 1024;
+	lc->base = 1;
+	lc->max = lock_roundup_2(mp_ncpus) * 256;
+	if (lc->max > 32678)
+		lc->max = 32678;
 }
 
 #ifdef DDB