diff --git a/source4/torture/raw/search.c b/source4/torture/raw/search.c
index 822039d830e..26b542c27af 100644
--- a/source4/torture/raw/search.c
+++ b/source4/torture/raw/search.c
@@ -1019,7 +1019,7 @@ done:
 */
 static BOOL test_many_dirs(struct smbcli_state *cli, TALLOC_CTX *mem_ctx)
 {
-	const int num_dirs = 50;
+	const int num_dirs = 20;
 	int i, fnum, n;
 	char *fname, *dname;
 	BOOL ret = True;