diff --git a/include/ircd/m/media.h b/include/ircd/m/media.h
index a8a22d4dd..9ca7db1b2 100644
--- a/include/ircd/m/media.h
+++ b/include/ircd/m/media.h
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ namespace ircd::m::media
 	extern log::log log;
 	extern conf::item<size_t> events_prefetch;
 	extern conf::item<seconds> download_timeout;
+	extern conf::item<size_t> journal_threshold;
 	extern std::set<m::room::id> downloading;
 	extern ctx::dock downloading_dock;
 }
diff --git a/matrix/media.cc b/matrix/media.cc
index fb1d54131..9db01c3bc 100644
--- a/matrix/media.cc
+++ b/matrix/media.cc
@@ -21,6 +21,13 @@ ircd::m::media::events_prefetch
 	{ "default",  16L                                 },
 };
 
+decltype(ircd::m::media::journal_threshold)
+ircd::m::media::journal_threshold
+{
+	{ "name",     "ircd.m.media.journal.threshold" },
+	{ "default",  0L                               },
+};
+
 decltype(ircd::m::media::downloading)
 ircd::m::media::downloading;
 
@@ -112,6 +119,11 @@ try
 		};
 
 	m::vm::copts vmopts;
+
+	// Disable the WAL for file rooms
+	if(size(content) >= size_t(journal_threshold))
+		vmopts.wopts.sopts.journal = false;
+
 	const m::room room
 	{
 		room_id, &vmopts