diff --git a/tests/malloc/main.c b/tests/malloc/main.c
index d5db60f84554..82d784220397 100644
--- a/tests/malloc/main.c
+++ b/tests/malloc/main.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 #ifdef BOARD_NATIVE
 #define CHUNK_SIZE          (1024 * 1024U)
 #else
-#define CHUNK_SIZE          (1024U)
+#define CHUNK_SIZE          (512U)
 #endif
 #endif