diff --git a/ironfish/src/fileStores/config.ts b/ironfish/src/fileStores/config.ts
index 9389ce510b..daf11e8fa0 100644
--- a/ironfish/src/fileStores/config.ts
+++ b/ironfish/src/fileStores/config.ts
@@ -110,6 +110,11 @@ export type ConfigOptions = {
    * mempool.
    */
   defaultTransactionExpirationSequenceDelta: number
+
+  /**
+   * The default number of blocks to request per message when syncing.
+   */
+  blocksPerMessage: number
 }
 
 export const ConfigOptionsSchema: yup.ObjectSchema<Partial<ConfigOptions>> = yup
@@ -172,6 +177,7 @@ export class Config extends KeyStore<ConfigOptions> {
       telemetryApi: DEFAULT_TELEMETRY_API,
       accountName: DEFAULT_WALLET_NAME,
       generateNewIdentity: false,
+      blocksPerMessage: 20,
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/ironfish/src/node.ts b/ironfish/src/node.ts
index 01b12a3de2..9dfbccf8c7 100644
--- a/ironfish/src/node.ts
+++ b/ironfish/src/node.ts
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ export class IronfishNode {
       logger: logger,
       peerNetwork: this.peerNetwork,
       strategy: this.strategy,
+      blocksPerMessage: config.get('blocksPerMessage'),
     })
 
     this.config.onConfigChange.on((key, value) => this.onConfigChange(key, value))