diff --git a/search/lib/settings.js b/search/lib/settings.js
index 8fad9bcc..22ff4d44 100644
--- a/search/lib/settings.js
+++ b/search/lib/settings.js
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ function getSettings () {
     settings.cmrUrl = process.env.CMR_URL || 'https://cmr.earthdata.nasa.gov';
     settings.protocol = process.env.CMR_STAC_PROTOCOL || 'https';
     settings.cacheTtl = process.env.CMR_STAC_CACHE_TTL || 14400;
-    settings.maxLimit = process.env.CMR_STAC_MAX_LIMIT || 500;
+    settings.maxLimit = process.env.CMR_STAC_MAX_LIMIT || 250;
 
     settings.throwCmrConvertParamErrors = process.env.THROW_CMR_CONVERT_PARAM_ERRORS === 'true';