diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 2f37f9d0..b3735123 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE([memcheck],
   [enable_memcheck=yes]
 )
 
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([compact-tries],
+  [AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-compact-tries], [use 4-way tries instead of 16-way ones @<:@no@:>@])],
+  [],
+  [enable_compact_tries=no]
+)
+
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([libssh],
   [AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-libssh], [enable LibSSH support in RPKI @<:@try@:>@])],
   [],
@@ -415,6 +421,10 @@ if test "$enable_debug" = yes ; then
   fi
 fi
 
+if test "$enable_compact_tries" = yes ; then
+  AC_DEFINE([ENABLE_COMPACT_TRIES], [1], [Define to 1 if you want 4-way tries instead of 16-way ones.])
+fi
+
 CLIENT=birdcl
 CLIENT_LIBS=
 if test "$enable_client" = yes ; then
@@ -475,6 +485,7 @@ AC_MSG_RESULT([        Object directory:	$objdir])
 AC_MSG_RESULT([        Iproute2 directory:	$iproutedir])
 AC_MSG_RESULT([        System configuration:	$sysdesc])
 AC_MSG_RESULT([        Debugging:		$enable_debug])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([        Compact tries:		$enable_compact_tries])
 AC_MSG_RESULT([        Routing protocols:	$protocols])
 AC_MSG_RESULT([        LibSSH support in RPKI:	$enable_libssh])
 AC_MSG_RESULT([        Kernel MPLS support:	$enable_mpls_kernel])
diff --git a/filter/data.h b/filter/data.h
index ad578208..6aa34d44 100644
--- a/filter/data.h
+++ b/filter/data.h
@@ -68,8 +68,15 @@ struct f_tree {
   void *data;
 };
 
+#ifdef ENABLE_COMPACT_TRIES
+/* Compact 4-way tries */
+#define TRIE_STEP		2
+#define TRIE_STACK_LENGTH	65
+#else
+/* Faster 16-way tries */
 #define TRIE_STEP		4
 #define TRIE_STACK_LENGTH	33
+#endif
 
 struct f_trie_node4
 {