diff --git a/packages_rs/nextclade-web/src/state/seqViewSettings.state.ts b/packages_rs/nextclade-web/src/state/seqViewSettings.state.ts
index f1b0ade63..c7a84c156 100644
--- a/packages_rs/nextclade-web/src/state/seqViewSettings.state.ts
+++ b/packages_rs/nextclade-web/src/state/seqViewSettings.state.ts
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ export const seqMarkerFrameShiftStateAtom = atom<SeqMarkerFrameShiftState>({
 
 export const maxNucMarkersAtom = atom<number>({
   key: 'maxNucMarkers',
-  default: 3000,
+  default: 500,
   effects: [persistAtom],
 })