diff --git a/src/core.c b/src/core.c
index c0291d5d..7f427fa6 100644
--- a/src/core.c
+++ b/src/core.c
@@ -11837,7 +11837,7 @@ __cold int mdbx_env_create(MDBX_env **penv) {
 
   env->me_options.dp_reserve_limit = 1024;
   env->me_options.rp_augment_limit = 256 * 1024;
-  env->me_options.dp_limit = 64 * 1024;
+  env->me_options.dp_limit = MDBX_DEBUG ? 64 * 1024 / 42 : 64 * 1024;
   if (env->me_options.dp_limit > MAX_PAGENO + 1 - NUM_METAS)
     env->me_options.dp_limit = MAX_PAGENO + 1 - NUM_METAS;
   env->me_options.dp_initial = MDBX_PNL_INITIAL;