diff --git a/src/or/config.c b/src/or/config.c
index 1ec14e18c6..7385e6ca68 100644
--- a/src/or/config.c
+++ b/src/or/config.c
@@ -105,7 +105,9 @@ static config_var_t config_vars[] = {
   VAR("DataDirectory",       STRING,   DataDirectory,        NULL),
   VAR("DirPort",             UINT,     DirPort,              "0"),
   VAR("DirBindAddress",      LINELIST, DirBindAddress,       NULL),
-  VAR("DirFetchPeriod",      INTERVAL, DirFetchPeriod,       "1 hours"),
+/* XXX we'd like dirfetchperiod to be higher for people with dirport not
+ * set, but low for people with dirport set. how to have two defaults? */
+  VAR("DirFetchPeriod",      INTERVAL, DirFetchPeriod,       "1 hour"),
   VAR("DirPostPeriod",       INTERVAL, DirPostPeriod,        "20 minutes"),
   VAR("RendPostPeriod",      INTERVAL, RendPostPeriod,       "20 minutes"),
   VAR("DirPolicy",           LINELIST, DirPolicy,            NULL),