diff --git a/changelog.d/16660.misc b/changelog.d/16660.misc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6763685b9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/16660.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Reduce max concurrency of background tasks, reducing potential max DB load.
diff --git a/synapse/util/task_scheduler.py b/synapse/util/task_scheduler.py
index 8c2df233d3..b254d3f84c 100644
--- a/synapse/util/task_scheduler.py
+++ b/synapse/util/task_scheduler.py
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ class TaskScheduler:
                 self._running_tasks.remove(task.id)
 
             # Try launch a new task since we've finished with this one.
-            self._clock.call_later(1, self._launch_scheduled_tasks)
+            self._clock.call_later(0.1, self._launch_scheduled_tasks)
 
         if len(self._running_tasks) >= TaskScheduler.MAX_CONCURRENT_RUNNING_TASKS:
             return