diff --git a/test/jdk/jdk/jfr/startupargs/TestMemoryOptions.java b/test/jdk/jdk/jfr/startupargs/TestMemoryOptions.java
index 03411a1e6e7..47b32f1c91a 100644
--- a/test/jdk/jdk/jfr/startupargs/TestMemoryOptions.java
+++ b/test/jdk/jdk/jfr/startupargs/TestMemoryOptions.java
@@ -487,6 +487,7 @@ private static void launchTestVM(TestCase tc) throws Exception {
             if (flightRecorderOptions != null) {
                 pb = ProcessTools.createTestJvm("--add-exports=jdk.jfr/jdk.jfr.internal=ALL-UNNAMED",
                                                 "--add-exports=java.base/jdk.internal.misc=ALL-UNNAMED",
+                                                "-Xmx256m",
                                                 flightRecorderOptions,
                                                 "-XX:StartFlightRecording",
                                                 SUT.class.getName(),
@@ -495,6 +496,7 @@ private static void launchTestVM(TestCase tc) throws Exception {
                 // default, no FlightRecorderOptions passed
                 pb = ProcessTools.createTestJvm("--add-exports=jdk.jfr/jdk.jfr.internal=ALL-UNNAMED",
                                                 "--add-exports=java.base/jdk.internal.misc=ALL-UNNAMED",
+                                                "-Xmx256m",
                                                 "-XX:StartFlightRecording",
                                                 SUT.class.getName(),
                                                 tc.getTestName());