diff --git a/qutebrowser/misc/ipc.py b/qutebrowser/misc/ipc.py
index 22a6abcc5..58bea9ca7 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/misc/ipc.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/misc/ipc.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ from qutebrowser.utils import log, usertypes, error, objreg, standarddir
 CONNECT_TIMEOUT = 100  # timeout for connecting/disconnecting
 WRITE_TIMEOUT = 1000
 READ_TIMEOUT = 5000
-ATIME_INTERVAL = 60 * 60 * 6 * 1000  # 6 hours
+ATIME_INTERVAL = 60 * 60 * 3 * 1000  # 3 hours
 PROTOCOL_VERSION = 1