diff --git a/arch/esp32/esp32.ini b/arch/esp32/esp32.ini
index 327444a60..810c9780e 100644
--- a/arch/esp32/esp32.ini
+++ b/arch/esp32/esp32.ini
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ build_flags =
   -DMYNEWT_VAL_BLE_HS_LOG_LVL=LOG_LEVEL_CRITICAL
   -DAXP_DEBUG_PORT=Serial
   -DCONFIG_BT_NIMBLE_ENABLED
+  -DCONFIG_BT_NIMBLE_MAX_BONDS=6 # default is 3
   -DCONFIG_NIMBLE_CPP_LOG_LEVEL=2
   -DCONFIG_BT_NIMBLE_MAX_CCCDS=20
   -DCONFIG_BT_NIMBLE_HOST_TASK_STACK_SIZE=8192