diff --git a/fact/src/config/mod.rs b/fact/src/config/mod.rs
index e4a67717..983f8e0f 100644
--- a/fact/src/config/mod.rs
+++ b/fact/src/config/mod.rs
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ const CONFIG_FILES: [&str; 4] = [
     "fact.yaml",
 ];
 
+/// Default maximum number of file events allowed per second when
+/// `rate_limit` is not configured. A value of 0 means unlimited.
+pub(crate) const DEFAULT_RATE_LIMIT: u64 = 400;
+
 fn yaml_to_duration_secs(v: &Yaml) -> Option<Duration> {
     v.as_f64()
         .or_else(|| v.as_i64().map(|i| i as f64))
@@ -140,7 +144,7 @@ impl FactConfig {
     }
 
     pub fn rate_limit(&self) -> u64 {
-        self.rate_limit.unwrap_or(0)
+        self.rate_limit.unwrap_or(DEFAULT_RATE_LIMIT)
     }
 
     pub fn replay(&self) -> Option<&Path> {
@@ -996,7 +1000,7 @@ pub struct FactCli {
     /// Events exceeding this rate will be dropped. A value of 0
     /// means unlimited (no throttling).
     ///
-    /// Default value is 0 (unlimited)
+    /// Default value is 400
     #[arg(long, short = 'l', env = "FACT_RATE_LIMIT")]
     rate_limit: Option<u64>,
 
diff --git a/fact/src/config/reloader/tests.rs b/fact/src/config/reloader/tests.rs
index 5fd3bce9..2cd00d71 100644
--- a/fact/src/config/reloader/tests.rs
+++ b/fact/src/config/reloader/tests.rs
@@ -190,13 +190,13 @@ generate_rate_limit_test! {
         ..Default::default()
     },
     FactConfig::default(),
-    Some(0)
+    Some(crate::config::DEFAULT_RATE_LIMIT)
 }
 generate_rate_limit_test! {
     test_reloader_rate_limit_from_default_to_explicit_default,
     FactConfig::default(),
     FactConfig {
-        rate_limit: Some(0),
+        rate_limit: Some(crate::config::DEFAULT_RATE_LIMIT),
         ..Default::default()
     },
     None
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ generate_rate_limit_test! {
 generate_rate_limit_test! {
     test_reloader_rate_limit_to_default_from_explicit_default,
     FactConfig {
-        rate_limit: Some(0),
+        rate_limit: Some(crate::config::DEFAULT_RATE_LIMIT),
         ..Default::default()
     },
     FactConfig::default(),
diff --git a/fact/src/config/tests.rs b/fact/src/config/tests.rs
index f88a1f44..dd6051fc 100644
--- a/fact/src/config/tests.rs
+++ b/fact/src/config/tests.rs
@@ -2094,7 +2094,7 @@ fn defaults() {
     assert_eq!(config.grpc.backoff.retries(), 10);
     assert_eq!(config.otel.endpoint(), None);
     assert_eq!(config.scan_interval(), Duration::from_secs(30));
-    assert_eq!(config.rate_limit(), 0);
+    assert_eq!(config.rate_limit(), DEFAULT_RATE_LIMIT);
     assert!(config.replay().is_none());
 }