diff --git a/lbry/dht/protocol/iterative_find.py b/lbry/dht/protocol/iterative_find.py
index 62c13cd5d..e334c3f61 100644
--- a/lbry/dht/protocol/iterative_find.py
+++ b/lbry/dht/protocol/iterative_find.py
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ class IterativeFinder:
 
         self.key = key
         self.bottom_out_limit = bottom_out_limit
-        self.max_results = max_results
+        self.max_results = max(constants.K, max_results)
         self.exclude = exclude or []
 
         self.active: typing.Dict['KademliaPeer', int] = {}  # peer: distance, sorted
@@ -229,6 +229,8 @@ class IterativeFinder:
                 continue
             if added >= constants.ALPHA:
                 break
+            if index > self.max_results:
+                break
             origin_address = (peer.address, peer.udp_port)
             if origin_address in self.exclude:
                 continue