diff --git a/server/src/core/server/app/handlers/api/story/active.ts b/server/src/core/server/app/handlers/api/story/active.ts
index 765101c6ed..f6575d3b17 100644
--- a/server/src/core/server/app/handlers/api/story/active.ts
+++ b/server/src/core/server/app/handlers/api/story/active.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ export type Options = Pick<AppOptions, "mongo">;
 const ActiveStoriesQuerySchema = Joi.object().keys({
   callback: Joi.string().allow("").optional(),
   siteID: Joi.string().required(),
-  count: Joi.number().optional(),
+  count: Joi.number().optional().max(999),
 });
 
 interface ActiveStoriesQuery {