diff --git a/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py b/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py
index c47739cd81bf5..29ec303768725 100644
--- a/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py
+++ b/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py
@@ -4343,6 +4343,7 @@ def __init__(
                 "1s",
                 "--eviction-min-resident",
                 "10s",
+                "--wal-reader-fanout",
             ]
 
         self.extra_opts = extra_opts