diff --git a/web/js/damus.js b/web/js/damus.js
index d75a184..b8150d9 100644
--- a/web/js/damus.js
+++ b/web/js/damus.js
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ function gather_unknown_hints(damus, pks, evids)
 
 function get_non_expired_unknowns(unks, type)
 {
-	const MAX_ATTEMPTS = 3
+	const MAX_ATTEMPTS = 2
 
 	function sort_parent_created(a_id, b_id) {
 		const a = unks[a_id]