diff --git a/src/test/java/iq/RuntimeTests.java b/src/test/java/iq/RuntimeTests.java
index e43c349d5d..103ab4930e 100644
--- a/src/test/java/iq/RuntimeTests.java
+++ b/src/test/java/iq/RuntimeTests.java
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@ public static void setupSparkSession() {
         sparkConfiguration.set("spark.executor.extraClassPath", "lib/");
         sparkConfiguration.set("spark.driver.extraClassPath", "lib/");
         sparkConfiguration.set("spark.sql.crossJoin.enabled", "true"); // enables cartesian product
+        sparkConfiguration.set("spark.sql.shuffle.partitions", "10"); // since the data is small for testing, we use
+                                                                      // less partitions.
 
         // prevents spark from failing to start on MacOS when disconnected from the internet
         sparkConfiguration.set("spark.driver.host", "127.0.0.1");