diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/preferences/BuildConsolePreferencePage.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/preferences/BuildConsolePreferencePage.java
index d3143eff4b3..100cdff64f6 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/preferences/BuildConsolePreferencePage.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/preferences/BuildConsolePreferencePage.java
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ public class BuildConsolePreferencePage extends FieldEditorPreferencePage implem
 		prefs.setDefault(PREF_CLEAR_CONSOLE, true);
 		prefs.setDefault(PREF_AUTO_OPEN_CONSOLE, false);
 		prefs.setDefault(PREF_CONSOLE_ON_TOP, true);
-		prefs.setDefault(PREF_BUILDCONSOLE_LINES, 100);
+		prefs.setDefault(PREF_BUILDCONSOLE_LINES, 500);
 		Font font = JFaceResources.getTextFont();
 		if (font != null) {
 			FontData[] data = font.getFontData();