diff --git a/openbsc/src/bsc_hack.c b/openbsc/src/bsc_hack.c
index 2b0af2e..54c8942 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/bsc_hack.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/bsc_hack.c
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@
 	signal(SIGPIPE, SIG_IGN);
 
 	/* start the SMS queue */
-	if (sms_queue_start(bsc_gsmnet, 5) != 0)
+	if (sms_queue_start(bsc_gsmnet, 20) != 0)
 		return -1;
 
 	if (daemonize) {