diff --git a/fabtests/common/shared.c b/fabtests/common/shared.c
index fc228f4d89d..a8bf16ddcc0 100644
--- a/fabtests/common/shared.c
+++ b/fabtests/common/shared.c
@@ -3804,7 +3804,7 @@ int ft_sock_listen(char *node, char *service)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	ret = listen(listen_sock, 0);
+	ret = listen(listen_sock, 511);
 	if (ret)
 		perror("listen");
 
diff --git a/fabtests/component/sock_test.c b/fabtests/component/sock_test.c
index abd9a999090..4a7ed4b9435 100755
--- a/fabtests/component/sock_test.c
+++ b/fabtests/component/sock_test.c
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ static int start_server(void)
 		goto close;
 	}
 
-	ret = listen(listen_sock, 0);
+	ret = listen(listen_sock, 511);
 	if (ret) {
 		FT_PRINTERR("listen", -errno);
 		goto close;