diff --git a/codev-skeleton/protocols/aspir/protocol.json b/codev-skeleton/protocols/aspir/protocol.json
index ed0dd7edc..fb5c4f993 100644
--- a/codev-skeleton/protocols/aspir/protocol.json
+++ b/codev-skeleton/protocols/aspir/protocol.json
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
         "models": ["gemini", "codex", "claude"],
         "parallel": true
       },
-      "max_iterations": 8,
+      "max_iterations": 3,
       "on_complete": {
         "commit": true,
         "push": true
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
         "models": ["gemini", "codex", "claude"],
         "parallel": true
       },
-      "max_iterations": 8,
+      "max_iterations": 3,
       "on_complete": {
         "commit": true,
         "push": true
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@
         "models": ["gemini", "codex", "claude"],
         "parallel": true
       },
-      "max_iterations": 8,
+      "max_iterations": 3,
       "on_complete": {
         "commit": true,
         "push": true
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
         "models": ["gemini", "codex", "claude"],
         "parallel": true
       },
-      "max_iterations": 8,
+      "max_iterations": 3,
       "on_complete": {
         "commit": true,
         "push": true
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@
   },
   "defaults": {
     "mode": "strict",
-    "max_iterations": 8,
+    "max_iterations": 3,
     "verify": {
       "models": ["gemini", "codex", "claude"],
       "parallel": true
diff --git a/codev-skeleton/protocols/spir/protocol.json b/codev-skeleton/protocols/spir/protocol.json
index 02ecb8941..0041fb5e9 100644
--- a/codev-skeleton/protocols/spir/protocol.json
+++ b/codev-skeleton/protocols/spir/protocol.json
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
         "models": ["gemini", "codex", "claude"],
         "parallel": true
       },
-      "max_iterations": 8,
+      "max_iterations": 3,
       "on_complete": {
         "commit": true,
         "push": true
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
         "models": ["gemini", "codex", "claude"],
         "parallel": true
       },
-      "max_iterations": 8,
+      "max_iterations": 3,
       "on_complete": {
         "commit": true,
         "push": true
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
         "models": ["gemini", "codex", "claude"],
         "parallel": true
       },
-      "max_iterations": 8,
+      "max_iterations": 3,
       "on_complete": {
         "commit": true,
         "push": true
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@
         "models": ["gemini", "codex", "claude"],
         "parallel": true
       },
-      "max_iterations": 8,
+      "max_iterations": 3,
       "on_complete": {
         "commit": true,
         "push": true
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@
   },
   "defaults": {
     "mode": "strict",
-    "max_iterations": 8,
+    "max_iterations": 3,
     "verify": {
       "models": ["gemini", "codex", "claude"],
       "parallel": true