diff --git a/src/exchange/taler-exchange-httpd.c b/src/exchange/taler-exchange-httpd.c
index 9c9579e76..19c318dbd 100644
--- a/src/exchange/taler-exchange-httpd.c
+++ b/src/exchange/taler-exchange-httpd.c
@@ -948,7 +948,8 @@ main (int argc,
                         (-1 == fh) ? serve_port : 0,
                         NULL, NULL,
                         &handle_mhd_request, NULL,
-                        MHD_OPTION_THREAD_POOL_SIZE, (unsigned int) 16,
+                        MHD_OPTION_THREAD_POOL_SIZE, (unsigned int) 24,
+                        MHD_OPTION_LISTEN_BACKLOG_SIZE, (unsigned int) 1024,
                         MHD_OPTION_LISTEN_SOCKET, fh,
                         MHD_OPTION_EXTERNAL_LOGGER, &handle_mhd_logs, NULL,
                         MHD_OPTION_NOTIFY_COMPLETED, &handle_mhd_completion_callback, NULL,