diff --git a/modules/client/sync/rooms/timeline.cc b/modules/client/sync/rooms/timeline.cc
index e81b89214..095f5a2dc 100644
--- a/modules/client/sync/rooms/timeline.cc
+++ b/modules/client/sync/rooms/timeline.cc
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ namespace ircd::m::sync
 	static event::id::buf _room_timeline_polylog_events(data &, const m::room &, bool &, bool &);
 	static bool room_timeline_polylog(data &);
 	static bool room_timeline_linear(data &);
+
+	extern conf::item<size_t> limit_default;
 	extern const event::keys::include default_keys;
 	extern item room_timeline;
 }
@@ -48,6 +50,13 @@ ircd::m::sync::default_keys
 	"type",
 };
 
+decltype(ircd::m::sync::limit_default)
+ircd::m::sync::limit_default
+{
+	{ "name",     "ircd.client.sync.rooms.timeline.limit.default" },
+	{ "default",  10L                                             },
+};
+
 bool
 ircd::m::sync::room_timeline_linear(data &data)
 {
@@ -148,14 +157,15 @@ ircd::m::sync::_room_timeline_polylog_events(data &data,
 		room, &fopts
 	};
 
-	for(; it && i < 10; --it, ++i)
+	const ssize_t limit(limit_default);
+	for(; it && i < limit; --it, ++i)
 	{
 		event_id = it.event_id();
 		if(!apropos(data, it.event_idx()))
 			break;
 	}
 
-	limited = i >= 10;
+	limited = i >= limit;
 	if(i > 0 && !it)
 		it.seek(event_id);