diff --git a/openquake/calculators/event_based_risk.py b/openquake/calculators/event_based_risk.py
index 6de7646b6e12..24cc9acae37e 100644
--- a/openquake/calculators/event_based_risk.py
+++ b/openquake/calculators/event_based_risk.py
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ def ebr_from_gmfs(sbe, oqparam, dstore, monitor):
     df = pandas.DataFrame(dic)
     del dic
     slices = performance.split_slices(
-        df.eid.to_numpy(), oqparam.max_gmvs_per_task)
+        df.eid.to_numpy(), oqparam.max_gmvs_per_chunk)
     for s0, s1 in slices:
         yield event_based_risk(df[s0:s1], oqparam, monitor)
 
diff --git a/openquake/commonlib/oqvalidation.py b/openquake/commonlib/oqvalidation.py
index 6b3ee0b7ba3b..5608e2c1397e 100644
--- a/openquake/commonlib/oqvalidation.py
+++ b/openquake/commonlib/oqvalidation.py
@@ -450,10 +450,10 @@
 max_data_transfer:
   INTERNAL. Restrict the maximum data transfer in disaggregation calculations.
 
-max_gmvs_per_task:
+max_gmvs_per_chunk:
   Maximum number of rows of the gmf_data table per task.
-  Example: *max_gmvs_per_task = 200_000*
-  Default: 100_0000
+  Example: *max_gmvs_per_chunk = 200_000*
+  Default: 50_0000
 
 max_potential_gmfs:
   Restrict the product *num_sites * num_events*.
@@ -979,7 +979,7 @@ class OqParam(valid.ParamSet):
     max = valid.Param(valid.boolean, False)
     max_aggregations = valid.Param(valid.positivefloat, 100_000)
     max_data_transfer = valid.Param(valid.positivefloat, 2E11)
-    max_gmvs_per_task = valid.Param(valid.positiveint, 100_000)
+    max_gmvs_per_chunk = valid.Param(valid.positiveint, 50_000) # for 2GB limit
     max_potential_gmfs = valid.Param(valid.positiveint, 1E12)
     max_potential_paths = valid.Param(valid.positiveint, 15_000)
     max_sites_disagg = valid.Param(valid.positiveint, 10)
diff --git a/openquake/qa_tests_data/event_based_risk/case_5/job.ini b/openquake/qa_tests_data/event_based_risk/case_5/job.ini
index ac9547c73bc1..86964e181bca 100644
--- a/openquake/qa_tests_data/event_based_risk/case_5/job.ini
+++ b/openquake/qa_tests_data/event_based_risk/case_5/job.ini
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ exposure_file = exposure_model.xml
 [risk_calculation]
 asset_hazard_distance = 20
 minimum_asset_loss = {'structural': 1000, 'contents': 1000}
-max_gmvs_per_task = 500
+max_gmvs_per_chunk = 500
 
 [outputs]
 quantiles = 0.15 0.85