diff --git a/versioning/BRM/extentmap.h b/versioning/BRM/extentmap.h
index 05d340b5a..8edc42915 100644
--- a/versioning/BRM/extentmap.h
+++ b/versioning/BRM/extentmap.h
@@ -100,6 +100,8 @@ using DBRootVec = std::vector<DBRootT>;
 // assumed column width when calculating dictionary store extent size
 #define DICT_COL_WIDTH 8
 
+static const uint32_t MAX_EXTENT_SIZE = 8000000;
+
 // valid values for EMEntry.status
 const int16_t EXTENTSTATUSMIN(0);  // equal to minimum valid status value
 const int16_t EXTENTAVAILABLE(0);
diff --git a/writeengine/splitter/we_cmdargs.cpp b/writeengine/splitter/we_cmdargs.cpp
index dbf2166a0..8102f3448 100644
--- a/writeengine/splitter/we_cmdargs.cpp
+++ b/writeengine/splitter/we_cmdargs.cpp
@@ -733,7 +733,7 @@ void WECmdArgs::parseCmdLineArgs(int argc, char** argv)
     }
     else if (fBatchQty > 100000)
     {
-      fBatchQty = 10000;
+      fBatchQty = min(static_cast<uint32_t>(fBatchQty), BRM::MAX_EXTENT_SIZE);
     }
   }
   if (vm.count("max-errors"))