diff --git a/src/MessageStore.h b/src/MessageStore.h
index 6203d8ed0..934c8b824 100644
--- a/src/MessageStore.h
+++ b/src/MessageStore.h
@@ -21,8 +21,14 @@
 // How many messages are stored (RAM + flash).
 // Define -DMESSAGE_HISTORY_LIMIT=N in build_flags to control memory usage.
 #ifndef MESSAGE_HISTORY_LIMIT
+#if defined(ARCH_ESP32) &&                                                                                                       \
+    !(defined(CONFIG_IDF_TARGET_ESP32C3) || defined(CONFIG_IDF_TARGET_ESP32S3) || defined(CONFIG_IDF_TARGET_ESP32S2))
+// Original ESP32 has no PSRAM; keep fewer messages in RAM
+#define MESSAGE_HISTORY_LIMIT 10
+#else
 #define MESSAGE_HISTORY_LIMIT 20
 #endif
+#endif
 
 // Internal alias used everywhere in code – do NOT redefine elsewhere.
 #define MAX_MESSAGES_SAVED MESSAGE_HISTORY_LIMIT