diff --git a/config/discourse_defaults.conf b/config/discourse_defaults.conf
index f4ede17d4..c6ef80a48 100644
--- a/config/discourse_defaults.conf
+++ b/config/discourse_defaults.conf
@@ -90,3 +90,6 @@ cors_origin = '*'
 
 # enable if you really need to serve assets in prd
 serve_static_assets = false
+
+# number of sidekiq workers (launched via unicorn master)
+sidekiq_workers = 5
diff --git a/lib/demon/sidekiq.rb b/lib/demon/sidekiq.rb
index b2d414ac0..09954d537 100644
--- a/lib/demon/sidekiq.rb
+++ b/lib/demon/sidekiq.rb
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ class Demon::Sidekiq < Demon::Base
     STDERR.puts "Loading Sidekiq in process id #{Process.pid}"
     require 'sidekiq/cli'
     cli = Sidekiq::CLI.instance
-    cli.parse([])
+    cli.parse(["-c", GlobalSetting.sidekiq_workers.to_s])
 
     load Rails.root + "config/initializers/sidekiq.rb"
     cli.run