diff --git a/src/ucioption.cpp b/src/ucioption.cpp
index 5833ef7b..b8a07800 100644
--- a/src/ucioption.cpp
+++ b/src/ucioption.cpp
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ void init(OptionsMap& o) {
   o["Write Debug Log"]          << Option(false, on_logger);
   o["Write Search Log"]         << Option(false);
   o["Search Log Filename"]      << Option("SearchLog.txt");
-  o["Contempt Factor"]          << Option(0, -50,  50);
+  o["Contempt Factor"]          << Option(20, -100,  100);
   o["Min Split Depth"]          << Option(0, 0, 12, on_threads);
   o["Threads"]                  << Option(1, 1, MAX_THREADS, on_threads);
   o["Hash"]                     << Option(32, 1, 1024 * 1024, on_hash_size);