diff --git a/ci/repo-config/mesosci/slc9-o2physics/DEFAULTS.env b/ci/repo-config/mesosci/slc9-o2physics/DEFAULTS.env
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3f1f2afeb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ci/repo-config/mesosci/slc9-o2physics/DEFAULTS.env
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+JOBS=20
diff --git a/ci/repo-config/mesosci/slc9-staging/o2physics_staging.env b/ci/repo-config/mesosci/slc9-staging/o2physics_staging.env
index 52dc8b1c4..f3c4957eb 100644
--- a/ci/repo-config/mesosci/slc9-staging/o2physics_staging.env
+++ b/ci/repo-config/mesosci/slc9-staging/o2physics_staging.env
@@ -10,3 +10,4 @@ alisw/alidist master"
 ALIBUILD_O2PHYSICS_TESTS=1
 USE_RECC=1
 RECC_LOG_LEVEL=info
+JOBS=20