diff --git a/source/sv_sys_unix.c b/source/sv_sys_unix.c
index e395316..9e7cd91 100644
--- a/source/sv_sys_unix.c
+++ b/source/sv_sys_unix.c
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 	host_parms.argc = com_argc;
 	host_parms.argv = com_argv;
 
-	host_parms.memsize = 16 * 1024 * 1024;
+	host_parms.memsize = 8 * 1024 * 1024;
 
 	j = COM_CheckParm ("-mem");
 	if (j)
diff --git a/source/sv_sys_win.c b/source/sv_sys_win.c
index b74a6e4..b7484e6 100644
--- a/source/sv_sys_win.c
+++ b/source/sv_sys_win.c
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 	host_parms.argc = com_argc;
 	host_parms.argv = com_argv;
 
-	host_parms.memsize = 16 * 1024 * 1024;
+	host_parms.memsize = 8 * 1024 * 1024;
 
 	if ((t = COM_CheckParm ("-heapsize")) != 0 && t + 1 < com_argc)
 		host_parms.memsize = atoi (com_argv[t + 1]) * 1024;