diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lists/common/constants.mock.ts b/x-pack/plugins/lists/common/constants.mock.ts
index 4f01d43f47ecd..30f219c3ec101 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lists/common/constants.mock.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lists/common/constants.mock.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export const OPERATOR = 'included';
 export const ENTRY_VALUE = 'some host name';
 export const MATCH = 'match';
 export const MATCH_ANY = 'match_any';
-export const MAX_IMPORT_PAYLOAD_BYTES = 40000000;
+export const MAX_IMPORT_PAYLOAD_BYTES = 9000000;
 export const IMPORT_BUFFER_SIZE = 1000;
 export const LIST = 'list';
 export const EXISTS = 'exists';
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/lists/server/config.ts b/x-pack/plugins/lists/server/config.ts
index 0fcc68419f8fe..394f85ecfb642 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/lists/server/config.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/lists/server/config.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ export const ConfigSchema = schema.object({
   importBufferSize: schema.number({ defaultValue: 1000, min: 1 }),
   listIndex: schema.string({ defaultValue: '.lists' }),
   listItemIndex: schema.string({ defaultValue: '.items' }),
-  maxImportPayloadBytes: schema.number({ defaultValue: 40000000, min: 1 }),
+  maxImportPayloadBytes: schema.number({ defaultValue: 9000000, min: 1 }),
 });
 
 export type ConfigType = TypeOf<typeof ConfigSchema>;