diff --git a/server/fwknopd.c b/server/fwknopd.c
index 55e9c60d..d7b1abff 100644
--- a/server/fwknopd.c
+++ b/server/fwknopd.c
@@ -1041,7 +1041,7 @@ get_running_pid(const fko_srv_options_t *opts)
         buf[PID_BUFLEN-1] = '\0';
         /* max pid value is configurable on Linux
         */
-        rpid = (pid_t) strtol_wrapper(buf, 0, (2 << 30),
+        rpid = (pid_t) strtol_wrapper(buf, 0, (2 << 22),
                 NO_EXIT_UPON_ERR, &is_err);
         if(is_err != FKO_SUCCESS)
             rpid = 0;