diff --git a/gerrit-pgm/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/pgm/gerrit.sh b/gerrit-pgm/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/pgm/gerrit.sh
index d29cdf48d1..4f7c13e7d3 100755
--- a/gerrit-pgm/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/pgm/gerrit.sh
+++ b/gerrit-pgm/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/pgm/gerrit.sh
@@ -295,6 +295,7 @@ fi
 GERRIT_FDS=`get_config --int core.packedGitOpenFiles`
 test -z "$GERRIT_FDS" && GERRIT_FDS=128
 GERRIT_FDS=`expr $GERRIT_FDS + $GERRIT_FDS`
+test $GERRIT_FDS -lt 1024 && GERRIT_FDS=1024
 
 GERRIT_USER=`get_config --get container.user`