diff --git a/base.nix b/base.nix
index f2491c0..6df4c6b 100644
--- a/base.nix
+++ b/base.nix
@@ -80,8 +80,9 @@
   networking.firewall.enable = true; # default
 
   # https://discourse.nixos.org/t/what-to-do-with-a-full-boot-partition/2049
-  boot.loader.grub.configurationLimit = 15;
-  boot.loader.systemd-boot.configurationLimit = 15;
-  boot.loader.raspberryPi.uboot.configurationLimit = 15;
-  boot.loader.generic-extlinux-compatible.configurationLimit = 15;
+  # raise to 15 if auto upgrading
+  boot.loader.grub.configurationLimit = lib.mkDefault 5;
+  boot.loader.systemd-boot.configurationLimit = lib.mkDefault 5;
+  boot.loader.raspberryPi.uboot.configurationLimit = lib.mkDefault 5;
+  boot.loader.generic-extlinux-compatible.configurationLimit = lib.mkDefault 5;
 }
diff --git a/profiles/auto-upgrade.nix b/profiles/auto-upgrade.nix
index c52b2f0..9a08cf9 100644
--- a/profiles/auto-upgrade.nix
+++ b/profiles/auto-upgrade.nix
@@ -26,4 +26,10 @@
     "--update-input" "nixos-hardware"
   ];
 
+  # lots of "empty" updates
+  boot.loader.grub.configurationLimit = 15;
+  boot.loader.systemd-boot.configurationLimit = 15;
+  boot.loader.raspberryPi.uboot.configurationLimit = 15;
+  boot.loader.generic-extlinux-compatible.configurationLimit = 15;
+
 }