diff --git a/degesch.c b/degesch.c
index 854ad84..6aab330 100644
--- a/degesch.c
+++ b/degesch.c
@@ -3013,7 +3013,7 @@ static void
 on_config_backlog_limit_change (struct config_item *item)
 {
 	struct app_context *ctx = item->user_data;
-	ctx->backlog_limit = MAX (item->value.integer, INT_MAX);
+	ctx->backlog_limit = MIN (item->value.integer, INT_MAX);
 
 	LIST_FOR_EACH (struct buffer, iter, ctx->buffers)
 		buffer_pop_excess_lines (ctx, iter);