diff --git a/src/common/options.cc b/src/common/options.cc
index 3412f92d994..638574d4af3 100644
--- a/src/common/options.cc
+++ b/src/common/options.cc
@@ -5579,7 +5579,7 @@ std::vector<Option> get_global_options() {
     .set_description("The maximum number concurrent IO operations, 0 for unlimited"),
 
     Option("crimson_alien_op_num_threads", Option::TYPE_UINT, Option::LEVEL_ADVANCED)
-    .set_default(16)
+    .set_default(6)
     .set_flag(Option::FLAG_STARTUP)
     .set_description("The number of threads for serving alienized ObjectStore"),