diff --git a/daemon/stream.c b/daemon/stream.c
index 87dfaf575e..9e36e8a9fe 100644
--- a/daemon/stream.c
+++ b/daemon/stream.c
@@ -708,7 +708,7 @@ daemonStreamHandleRead(virNetServerClientPtr client,
                        daemonClientStream *stream)
 {
     char *buffer;
-    size_t bufferLen = VIR_NET_MESSAGE_PAYLOAD_MAX;
+    size_t bufferLen = VIR_NET_MESSAGE_LEGACY_PAYLOAD_MAX;
     int ret;
 
     VIR_DEBUG("client=%p, stream=%p tx=%d closed=%d",
diff --git a/src/rpc/virnetprotocol.x b/src/rpc/virnetprotocol.x
index 131e40b1c3..1eae7cb80f 100644
--- a/src/rpc/virnetprotocol.x
+++ b/src/rpc/virnetprotocol.x
@@ -50,6 +50,13 @@
  */
 const VIR_NET_MESSAGE_INITIAL = 65536;
 
+/*
+ * Until we enlarged the message buffers, this was the max
+ * payload size. We need to remember this for compat with
+ * old clients.
+ */
+const VIR_NET_MESSAGE_LEGACY_PAYLOAD_MAX = 262144;
+
 /* Maximum total message size (serialised). */
 const VIR_NET_MESSAGE_MAX = 16777216;