diff --git a/distro/debian/snapshot/metasnap/metasnap.go b/distro/debian/snapshot/metasnap/metasnap.go
index 62f1741..3fa40ac 100644
--- a/distro/debian/snapshot/metasnap/metasnap.go
+++ b/distro/debian/snapshot/metasnap/metasnap.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ const apiURL = "http://metasnap.debian.net/cgi-bin/api?"
 
 var (
 	limiterTimeout     time.Duration = time.Second / 20
+	limiterMaxTimeout  time.Duration = time.Second * 3
 	limiterBurst       int           = 3
 	limiterUpdateDelay time.Duration = time.Second * 10
 
@@ -28,6 +29,9 @@ var (
 
 func lowerLimit() {
 	limiterTimeout = limiterTimeout * 2
+	if limiterTimeout > limiterMaxTimeout {
+		limiterTimeout = limiterMaxTimeout
+	}
 	log.Info().Msgf("limiter timeout set to %v", limiterTimeout)
 	Limiter.SetLimitAt(
 		time.Now().Add(limiterUpdateDelay),
diff --git a/distro/debian/snapshot/mr/mr.go b/distro/debian/snapshot/mr/mr.go
index 8ee826f..dc6fba6 100644
--- a/distro/debian/snapshot/mr/mr.go
+++ b/distro/debian/snapshot/mr/mr.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ const apiURL = "https://snapshot.debian.org/mr"
 
 var (
 	limiterTimeout     time.Duration = time.Second / 20
+	limiterMaxTimeout  time.Duration = time.Second * 3
 	limiterBurst       int           = 3
 	limiterUpdateDelay time.Duration = time.Second * 10
 
@@ -25,6 +26,9 @@ var (
 
 func lowerLimit() {
 	limiterTimeout = limiterTimeout * 2
+	if limiterTimeout > limiterMaxTimeout {
+		limiterTimeout = limiterMaxTimeout
+	}
 	log.Info().Msgf("limiter timeout set to %v", limiterTimeout)
 	Limiter.SetLimitAt(
 		time.Now().Add(limiterUpdateDelay),