diff --git a/doc/bird.sgml b/doc/bird.sgml
index b5136053..5e48e342 100644
--- a/doc/bird.sgml
+++ b/doc/bird.sgml
@@ -784,7 +784,8 @@ to set options.
         thresholds; first value is the low threshold (when to resume), the
         second one is the high threshold (when to pause). The higher is the
         threshold, the more memory can get used. In most cases, the defaults
-	should work for you. Default: 1024 8192.
+	should work for you but if you experience memory bloating on import
+	surges, this knob is the first to turn down. Default: 333300 1011010.
 
 	<tag><label id="rtable-export-settle-time">export settle time <m/time/ <m/time/</tag>
 	Minimum and maximum settle times, respectively, for export announcements.
diff --git a/nest/rt-table.c b/nest/rt-table.c
index 7a6546c6..276f7b47 100644
--- a/nest/rt-table.c
+++ b/nest/rt-table.c
@@ -4252,8 +4252,8 @@ rt_new_table(struct symbol *s, uint addr_type)
   c->addr_type = addr_type;
   c->gc_threshold = 1000;
   c->gc_period = (uint) -1;	/* set in rt_postconfig() */
-  c->cork_threshold.low = 1024;
-  c->cork_threshold.high = 8192;
+  c->cork_threshold.low = 333300;
+  c->cork_threshold.high = 1011010;
   c->export_settle = (struct settle_config) {
     .min = 1 MS,
     .max = 100 MS,