diff --git a/kmir/src/kmir/kmir.py b/kmir/src/kmir/kmir.py
index c075cb376..09ea235a2 100644
--- a/kmir/src/kmir/kmir.py
+++ b/kmir/src/kmir/kmir.py
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ def kcfg_explore(self, label: str | None = None) -> Iterator[KCFGExplore]:
             llvm_definition_dir=self.llvm_library_dir,
             bug_report=self.bug_report,
             id=label if self.bug_report is not None else None,  # NB bug report arg.s must be coherent
-            interim_simplification=50,  # working around memory problems in LLVM backend calls
+            simplify_each=30,
         ) as cts:
             yield KCFGExplore(cts, kcfg_semantics=KMIRSemantics())