diff --git a/posting/lists.go b/posting/lists.go
index 260a34c0ed1922e08807c14771e937e5c634ee39..4d09e144df17886ab894e5f7c5fd1793896c5fef 100644
--- a/posting/lists.go
+++ b/posting/lists.go
@@ -182,7 +182,9 @@ func checkMemoryUsage() {
 		} else {
 			// If merging is slow, we don't want to end up having too many goroutines
 			// merging the dirty list. This should keep them in check.
-			if mr.Count() > 25 {
+			// With a value of 12 and duration of 5 seconds, some goroutines are
+			// taking over a minute to finish.
+			if mr.Count() > 12 {
 				glog.Info("Skipping gentle merging.")
 				continue
 			}