diff --git a/django/api/migrations/0026_alter_uploadedvinsfile_chunk_size.py b/django/api/migrations/0026_alter_uploadedvinsfile_chunk_size.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..292cb0e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/django/api/migrations/0026_alter_uploadedvinsfile_chunk_size.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Generated by Django 3.2.25 on 2024-05-28 00:49
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('api', '0025_auto_20240516_2248'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='uploadedvinsfile',
+            name='chunk_size',
+            field=models.IntegerField(default=5000),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/django/api/models/uploaded_vins_file.py b/django/api/models/uploaded_vins_file.py
index 5f3345e1..a958dd28 100644
--- a/django/api/models/uploaded_vins_file.py
+++ b/django/api/models/uploaded_vins_file.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 class UploadedVinsFile(Auditable):
     filename = models.CharField(max_length=32, unique=True)
 
-    chunk_size = models.IntegerField(default=25000)
+    chunk_size = models.IntegerField(default=5000)
 
     chunks_per_run = models.IntegerField(default=4)
 
diff --git a/django/workers/tasks.py b/django/workers/tasks.py
index 1efe4076..280a6c8a 100644
--- a/django/workers/tasks.py
+++ b/django/workers/tasks.py
@@ -26,6 +26,11 @@ def read_uploaded_vins_file():
     # then we'll have to compare the (vin, postal_code) keys to existing records in the database, and
     # determine which ones need to get bulk-inserted, and which ones bulk-updated.
     # also have to keep in mind the memory used by any data structures we use
+    def close_file_response(file_response):
+        if file_response is not None:
+            file_response.close()
+            file_response.release_conn()
+
     @transaction.atomic
     def inner(vins_file, file_response):
         if vins_file is not None and file_response is not None:
@@ -33,19 +38,22 @@ def inner(vins_file, file_response):
 
     file_response = None
     vins_file = (
-        UploadedVinsFile.objects.filter(processed=False).order_by("create_timestamp").first()
+        UploadedVinsFile.objects.filter(processed=False)
+        .order_by("create_timestamp")
+        .first()
     )
     if vins_file is not None:
         file_response = get_minio_object(vins_file.filename)
     try:
         func_timeout(600, inner, args=(vins_file, file_response))
+        close_file_response(file_response)
     except FunctionTimedOut:
         print("reading vins file job timed out")
+        close_file_response(file_response)
+        raise Exception
+    except Exception:
+        close_file_response(file_response)
         raise Exception
-    finally:
-        if file_response is not None:
-            file_response.close()
-            file_response.release_conn()
 
 
 def batch_decode_vins(service_name, batch_size=50):
@@ -59,7 +67,10 @@ def inner():
                 service.NUMBER_OF_CURRENT_DECODE_ATTEMPTS.value
                 + "__lt": max_decode_attempts,
             }
-            order_by = [service.NUMBER_OF_CURRENT_DECODE_ATTEMPTS.value, "create_timestamp"]
+            order_by = [
+                service.NUMBER_OF_CURRENT_DECODE_ATTEMPTS.value,
+                "create_timestamp",
+            ]
             uploaded_vin_records = UploadedVinRecord.objects.filter(**filters).order_by(
                 *order_by
             )[:batch_size]