@@ -1161,15 +1161,12 @@
 	(sorted-test-names     (tests:sort-by-priority-and-waiton test-records))
 	(test-registry         (make-hash-table))
 	(registry-mutex        (make-mutex))
 	(num-retries           0)
 	(max-retries           (config-lookup *configdat* "setup" "maxretries"))
-	(max-concurrent-jobs   (let ((mcj (config-lookup *configdat* "setup"     "max_concurrent_jobs")))
-				 (if (and mcj (string->number mcj))
-				     (string->number mcj)
-				     1))) ;; length of the register queue ahead
-	(reglen                (if (number? reglen-in) reglen-in 1))
+	(max-concurrent-jobs   (configf:lookup-number *configdat* "setup" "max_concurrent_jobs" default: 50))
+        (reglen                (if (number? reglen-in) reglen-in 1))
 	(last-time-incomplete  (- (current-seconds) 900)) ;; force at least one clean up cycle
 	(last-time-some-running (current-seconds))
 	;; (tdbdat                (tasks:open-db))
 	(runsdat (make-runs:dat
 		  ;; hed: hed