diff --git a/crates/compiler/roc_target/src/lib.rs b/crates/compiler/roc_target/src/lib.rs
index 3100dce71f..2341402d62 100644
--- a/crates/compiler/roc_target/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/compiler/roc_target/src/lib.rs
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ impl TargetInfo {
     }
 
     pub const fn max_by_value_size(&self) -> usize {
-        // Pass values larger than 8 machine words by reference.
-        self.ptr_size() * 8
+        // Pass values larger than 4 machine words by reference.
+        self.ptr_size() * 4
     }
 
     pub const fn ptr_alignment_bytes(&self) -> usize {