diff --git a/src/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/protocols/pw/base.yaml b/src/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/protocols/pw/base.yaml
index b8f93db1c..9d6f84326 100644
--- a/src/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/protocols/pw/base.yaml
+++ b/src/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/protocols/pw/base.yaml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ default_inputs:
                 smearing: cold
                 degauss: 0.01
             ELECTRONS:
-                electron_maxstep: 80
+                electron_maxstep: 50
                 mixing_beta: 0.4
 default_protocol: moderate
 protocols:
diff --git a/src/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/base.py b/src/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/base.py
index fccac5114..e50f6f986 100644
--- a/src/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/base.py
+++ b/src/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/base.py
@@ -29,10 +29,11 @@ class PwBaseWorkChain(ProtocolMixin, BaseRestartWorkChain):
         'qe': qe_defaults,
         'delta_threshold_degauss': 30,
         'delta_factor_degauss': 0.1,
-        'delta_factor_mixing_beta': 0.8,
+        'delta_factor_mixing_beta': 0.5,
         'delta_factor_max_seconds': 0.95,
         'delta_factor_nbnd': 0.05,
         'delta_minimum_nbnd': 4,
+        'conv_slope_threshold': -0.1,
     })
 
     @classmethod
@@ -568,16 +569,36 @@ def handle_electronic_convergence_not_reached(self, calculation):
 
         Decrease the mixing beta and fully restart from the previous calculation.
         """
-        factor = self.defaults.delta_factor_mixing_beta
+        import numpy
+
+        scf_accuracy = calculation.tools.get_scf_accuracy(0)
+        scf_accuracy_slope = numpy.polyfit(numpy.arange(0, len(scf_accuracy)), numpy.log(scf_accuracy), 1)[0]
+
+        if scf_accuracy_slope < self.defaults.conv_slope_threshold:
+
+            action = (
+                'electronic convergence not reached but the scf accuracy is decreasing: restart from the last '
+                'calculation.'
+            )
+            self.set_restart_type(RestartType.FULL, calculation.outputs.remote_folder)
+            self.report_error_handled(calculation, action)
+            return ProcessHandlerReport(True)
+
         mixing_beta = self.ctx.inputs.parameters.get('ELECTRONS', {}).get('mixing_beta', self.defaults.qe.mixing_beta)
-        mixing_beta_new = mixing_beta * factor
 
-        self.ctx.inputs.parameters['ELECTRONS']['mixing_beta'] = mixing_beta_new
-        action = f'reduced beta mixing from {mixing_beta} to {mixing_beta_new} and restarting from the last calculation'
+        if mixing_beta > 0.1:
 
-        self.set_restart_type(RestartType.FULL, calculation.outputs.remote_folder)
-        self.report_error_handled(calculation, action)
-        return ProcessHandlerReport(True)
+            mixing_beta_new = mixing_beta * self.defaults.delta_factor_mixing_beta
+
+            self.ctx.inputs.parameters['ELECTRONS']['mixing_beta'] = mixing_beta_new
+            action = (
+                f'reduced beta mixing from {mixing_beta} to {mixing_beta_new} and restarting from the last '
+                'calculation'
+            )
+
+            self.set_restart_type(RestartType.FULL, calculation.outputs.remote_folder)
+            self.report_error_handled(calculation, action)
+            return ProcessHandlerReport(True)
 
     @process_handler(priority=420, exit_codes=[
         PwCalculation.exit_codes.WARNING_ELECTRONIC_CONVERGENCE_NOT_REACHED,
diff --git a/tests/workflows/protocols/pw/test_bands/test_default.yml b/tests/workflows/protocols/pw/test_bands/test_default.yml
index f1b73428b..10666d19d 100644
--- a/tests/workflows/protocols/pw/test_bands/test_default.yml
+++ b/tests/workflows/protocols/pw/test_bands/test_default.yml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ bands:
         conv_thr: 4.0e-10
         diago_full_acc: true
         diagonalization: paro
-        electron_maxstep: 80
+        electron_maxstep: 50
         mixing_beta: 0.4
         startingpot: file
       SYSTEM:
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ relax:
           tstress: true
         ELECTRONS:
           conv_thr: 4.0e-10
-          electron_maxstep: 80
+          electron_maxstep: 50
           mixing_beta: 0.4
         SYSTEM:
           degauss: 0.01
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ scf:
         tstress: true
       ELECTRONS:
         conv_thr: 4.0e-10
-        electron_maxstep: 80
+        electron_maxstep: 50
         mixing_beta: 0.4
       SYSTEM:
         degauss: 0.01
diff --git a/tests/workflows/protocols/pw/test_base/test_default.yml b/tests/workflows/protocols/pw/test_base/test_default.yml
index 0e7179be1..ee7d38851 100644
--- a/tests/workflows/protocols/pw/test_base/test_default.yml
+++ b/tests/workflows/protocols/pw/test_base/test_default.yml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ pw:
       tstress: true
     ELECTRONS:
       conv_thr: 4.0e-10
-      electron_maxstep: 80
+      electron_maxstep: 50
       mixing_beta: 0.4
     SYSTEM:
       degauss: 0.01
diff --git a/tests/workflows/protocols/pw/test_relax/test_default.yml b/tests/workflows/protocols/pw/test_relax/test_default.yml
index 56684a53a..67b69b014 100644
--- a/tests/workflows/protocols/pw/test_relax/test_default.yml
+++ b/tests/workflows/protocols/pw/test_relax/test_default.yml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ base:
         tstress: true
       ELECTRONS:
         conv_thr: 4.0e-10
-        electron_maxstep: 80
+        electron_maxstep: 50
         mixing_beta: 0.4
       SYSTEM:
         degauss: 0.01
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ base_final_scf:
         tstress: true
       ELECTRONS:
         conv_thr: 4.0e-10
-        electron_maxstep: 80
+        electron_maxstep: 50
         mixing_beta: 0.4
       SYSTEM:
         degauss: 0.01
diff --git a/tests/workflows/protocols/test_pdos/test_default.yml b/tests/workflows/protocols/test_pdos/test_default.yml
index 991b87fec..4a6d7a620 100644
--- a/tests/workflows/protocols/test_pdos/test_default.yml
+++ b/tests/workflows/protocols/test_pdos/test_default.yml
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ nscf:
         tstress: true
       ELECTRONS:
         conv_thr: 4.0e-10
-        electron_maxstep: 80
+        electron_maxstep: 50
         mixing_beta: 0.4
       SYSTEM:
         ecutrho: 240.0
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ scf:
         tstress: true
       ELECTRONS:
         conv_thr: 4.0e-10
-        electron_maxstep: 80
+        electron_maxstep: 50
         mixing_beta: 0.4
       SYSTEM:
         degauss: 0.01
diff --git a/tests/workflows/protocols/xspectra/test_core/test_default.yml b/tests/workflows/protocols/xspectra/test_core/test_default.yml
index 5b329bde6..684e2858e 100644
--- a/tests/workflows/protocols/xspectra/test_core/test_default.yml
+++ b/tests/workflows/protocols/xspectra/test_core/test_default.yml
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ scf:
         tstress: true
       ELECTRONS:
         conv_thr: 4.0e-10
-        electron_maxstep: 80
+        electron_maxstep: 50
         mixing_beta: 0.4
       SYSTEM:
         degauss: 0.01
diff --git a/tests/workflows/protocols/xspectra/test_crystal/test_default.yml b/tests/workflows/protocols/xspectra/test_crystal/test_default.yml
index e2a310b3c..60b033dc7 100644
--- a/tests/workflows/protocols/xspectra/test_crystal/test_default.yml
+++ b/tests/workflows/protocols/xspectra/test_crystal/test_default.yml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ core:
           tstress: true
         ELECTRONS:
           conv_thr: 4.0e-10
-          electron_maxstep: 80
+          electron_maxstep: 50
           mixing_beta: 0.4
         SYSTEM:
           degauss: 0.01
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ relax:
           tstress: true
         ELECTRONS:
           conv_thr: 4.0e-10
-          electron_maxstep: 80
+          electron_maxstep: 50
           mixing_beta: 0.4
         SYSTEM:
           degauss: 0.01