diff --git a/sys/reaper/reaper_unix.go b/sys/reaper/reaper_unix.go
index 8f764ec1e..baab9740b 100644
--- a/sys/reaper/reaper_unix.go
+++ b/sys/reaper/reaper_unix.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import (
 // ErrNoSuchProcess is returned when the process no longer exists
 var ErrNoSuchProcess = errors.New("no such process")
 
-const bufferSize = 2048
+const bufferSize = 32
 
 type subscriber struct {
 	sync.Mutex