diff --git a/nvflare/fuel/hci/server/hci.py b/nvflare/fuel/hci/server/hci.py
index fcc27834a4..96e0d0cc73 100644
--- a/nvflare/fuel/hci/server/hci.py
+++ b/nvflare/fuel/hci/server/hci.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 
 from .reg import ServerCommandRegister
 
-MAX_ADMIN_CONNECTIONS = 128
+MAX_ADMIN_CONNECTIONS = 16
 
 
 class _MsgHandler(socketserver.BaseRequestHandler):