diff --git a/crates/net/discv4/src/lib.rs b/crates/net/discv4/src/lib.rs
index af93537c1..8aef5337d 100644
--- a/crates/net/discv4/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/net/discv4/src/lib.rs
@@ -1378,9 +1378,12 @@ impl Discv4Service {
     fn respond_closest(&mut self, target: PeerId, to: SocketAddr) {
         let key = kad_key(target);
         let expire = self.send_neighbours_expiration();
-        let all_nodes = self.kbuckets.closest_values(&key).collect::<Vec<_>>();
 
-        for nodes in all_nodes.chunks(SAFE_MAX_DATAGRAM_NEIGHBOUR_RECORDS) {
+        // get the MAX_NODES_PER_BUCKET closest nodes to the target
+        let closest_nodes =
+            self.kbuckets.closest_values(&key).take(MAX_NODES_PER_BUCKET).collect::<Vec<_>>();
+
+        for nodes in closest_nodes.chunks(SAFE_MAX_DATAGRAM_NEIGHBOUR_RECORDS) {
             let nodes = nodes.iter().map(|node| node.value.record).collect::<Vec<NodeRecord>>();
             trace!(target: "discv4", len = nodes.len(), to=?to,"Sent neighbours packet");
             let msg = Message::Neighbours(Neighbours { nodes, expire });