diff --git a/src/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/ph/base.py b/src/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/ph/base.py
index 81f80b79f..ab3001aab 100644
--- a/src/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/ph/base.py
+++ b/src/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/ph/base.py
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@ class PhBaseWorkChain(ProtocolMixin, BaseRestartWorkChain):
 
     defaults = AttributeDict({
         'delta_factor_max_seconds': 0.95,
-        'delta_factor_alpha_mix': 0.90,
-        'alpha_mix': 0.70,
+        'delta_factor_alpha_mix': 0.5,
+        'nmix_ph': 4,
+        'alpha_mix': 0.7,
     })
 
     @classmethod
@@ -276,13 +277,33 @@ def handle_out_of_walltime(self, node):
     @process_handler(priority=410, exit_codes=PhCalculation.exit_codes.ERROR_CONVERGENCE_NOT_REACHED)
     def handle_convergence_not_reached(self, node):
         """Handle `ERROR_CONVERGENCE_NOT_REACHED` exit code: decrease the mixing beta and restart."""
+        self.ctx.restart_calc = node
         factor = self.defaults.delta_factor_alpha_mix
+
+        nmix_ph = self.ctx.inputs.parameters.get('INPUTPH', {}).get('nmix_ph', self.defaults.nmix_ph)
+
+        if nmix_ph < 8:  # 8~20 is the recommended range on the Quantum ESPRESSO documentation
+            self.ctx.inputs.parameters.setdefault('INPUTPH', {})['nmix_ph'] = 8
+            action = f'increased number of mixing iteration from {nmix_ph} to 8 and restarting'
+            self.report_error_handled(node, action)
+
+            return ProcessHandlerReport(True)
+
+        # now try playing with the mixing parameters
         alpha_mix = self.ctx.inputs.parameters.get('INPUTPH', {}).get('alpha_mix(1)', self.defaults.alpha_mix)
         alpha_mix_new = alpha_mix * factor
 
-        self.ctx.restart_calc = node
-        self.ctx.inputs.parameters.setdefault('INPUTPH', {})['alpha_mix(1)'] = alpha_mix_new
+        if self.ctx.inputs.parameters.get('INPUTPH', {}).get('alpha_mix(20)', -1) != -1:
+            action = 'no more efficient strategies for convergence.'
+            self.report_error_handled(node, action)
+            return ProcessHandlerReport(False)
+
+        if alpha_mix_new >= 0.1:
+            self.ctx.inputs.parameters.setdefault('INPUTPH', {})['alpha_mix(1)'] = alpha_mix_new
+            action = f'reduced alpha_mix from {alpha_mix} to {alpha_mix_new} and restarting'
+        else:
+            self.ctx.inputs.parameters.setdefault('INPUTPH', {})['alpha_mix(20)'] = 0.4
+            action = f'introduing alpha_mix(20)={alpha_mix_new} and restarting'
 
-        action = f'reduced alpha_mix from {alpha_mix} to {alpha_mix_new} and restarting'
         self.report_error_handled(node, action)
         return ProcessHandlerReport(True)
diff --git a/src/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/protocols/ph/base.yaml b/src/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/protocols/ph/base.yaml
index 126c6b836..b281d8a90 100644
--- a/src/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/protocols/ph/base.yaml
+++ b/src/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/protocols/ph/base.yaml
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ default_inputs:
                 withmpi: True
         parameters:
             INPUTPH:
+                alpha_mix: 0.4
+                nmix_ph: 8
                 tr2_ph: 1.0e-18
         qpoints:
           - 3
diff --git a/tests/workflows/ph/test_base.py b/tests/workflows/ph/test_base.py
index aaa6b5467..edef058a1 100644
--- a/tests/workflows/ph/test_base.py
+++ b/tests/workflows/ph/test_base.py
@@ -99,15 +99,28 @@ def test_handle_convergence_not_reached(generate_workchain_ph):
     process.setup()
     process.validate_parameters()
 
+    result = process.handle_convergence_not_reached(process.ctx.children[-1])
+    assert isinstance(result, ProcessHandlerReport)
+    assert result.do_break
+    assert process.ctx.inputs.parameters['INPUTPH']['nmix_ph'] == 8
+
     alpha_new = PhBaseWorkChain.defaults.alpha_mix * PhBaseWorkChain.defaults.delta_factor_alpha_mix
 
+    for _ in range(2):  # this is dependent on PhBaseWorkChain.defaults.delta_factor_alpha_mix
+        result = process.handle_convergence_not_reached(process.ctx.children[-1])
+        assert isinstance(result, ProcessHandlerReport)
+        assert result.do_break
+        assert process.ctx.inputs.parameters['INPUTPH']['alpha_mix(1)'] == alpha_new
+        alpha_new = alpha_new * PhBaseWorkChain.defaults.delta_factor_alpha_mix
+
     result = process.handle_convergence_not_reached(process.ctx.children[-1])
     assert isinstance(result, ProcessHandlerReport)
     assert result.do_break
-    assert process.ctx.inputs.parameters['INPUTPH']['alpha_mix(1)'] == alpha_new
+    assert process.ctx.inputs.parameters['INPUTPH']['alpha_mix(20)'] == 0.4
 
-    result = process.inspect_process()
-    assert result.status == 0
+    result = process.handle_convergence_not_reached(process.ctx.children[-1])
+    assert isinstance(result, ProcessHandlerReport)
+    assert not result.do_break
 
 
 def test_handle_diagonalization_errors(generate_workchain_ph):
diff --git a/tests/workflows/protocols/ph/test_base/test_default.yml b/tests/workflows/protocols/ph/test_base/test_default.yml
index 845fe3211..530f5282f 100644
--- a/tests/workflows/protocols/ph/test_base/test_default.yml
+++ b/tests/workflows/protocols/ph/test_base/test_default.yml
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ ph:
       withmpi: true
   parameters:
     INPUTPH:
+      alpha_mix: 0.4
+      nmix_ph: 8
       tr2_ph: 1.0e-18
   qpoints:
   - - 3