diff --git a/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c b/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c
index a5590f4193f1..82c097d6ec93 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c
@@ -834,7 +834,7 @@ struct net_device *softif_create(const char *name)
 	atomic_set(&bat_priv->gw_sel_class, 20);
 	atomic_set(&bat_priv->gw_bandwidth, 41);
 	atomic_set(&bat_priv->orig_interval, 1000);
-	atomic_set(&bat_priv->hop_penalty, 10);
+	atomic_set(&bat_priv->hop_penalty, 30);
 	atomic_set(&bat_priv->log_level, 0);
 	atomic_set(&bat_priv->fragmentation, 1);
 	atomic_set(&bat_priv->bcast_queue_left, BCAST_QUEUE_LEN);