diff --git a/src/args.cc b/src/args.cc
index 1c3d4eca5..7ce894b93 100644
--- a/src/args.cc
+++ b/src/args.cc
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Args::Args() {
   bucket = 2000000;
   minn = 3;
   maxn = 6;
-  thread = 12;
+  thread = (std::thread::hardware_concurrency() - 1 > 0) ? (std::thread::hardware_concurrency() - 1) : 12 ;
   lrUpdateRate = 100;
   t = 1e-4;
   label = "__label__";