diff --git a/src/mesh/mesh-pb-constants.h b/src/mesh/mesh-pb-constants.h
index 9e747db1d6..b8ef236c99 100644
--- a/src/mesh/mesh-pb-constants.h
+++ b/src/mesh/mesh-pb-constants.h
@@ -17,9 +17,7 @@
 #define MAX_RX_TOPHONE 32
 
 /// max number of nodes allowed in the mesh
-#if ARCH_PORTDUINO
-#define MAX_NUM_NODES settingsMap[maxnodes]
-#else
+#ifndef MAX_NUM_NODES
 #define MAX_NUM_NODES 100
 #endif
 
diff --git a/variants/portduino/variant.h b/variants/portduino/variant.h
index f47b58afc2..5aad8dbfcc 100644
--- a/variants/portduino/variant.h
+++ b/variants/portduino/variant.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 #define HAS_SCREEN 1
 #define CANNED_MESSAGE_MODULE_ENABLE 1
 #define HAS_GPS 1
+#define MAX_NUM_NODES settingsMap[maxnodes]