diff --git a/config/paludis/options.conf b/config/paludis/options.conf
index 4d39549..eeb3cf6 100644
--- a/config/paludis/options.conf
+++ b/config/paludis/options.conf
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 */* LINGUAS: en
 
 # build options
-*/* build_options: symbols=strip work=remove jobs=8 -optional_tests -recommended_tests -expensive_tests
+*/* build_options: symbols=strip work=remove jobs=4 -optional_tests -recommended_tests -expensive_tests
 
 # targets
 */* targets: -* x86_64-pc-linux-gnu