diff --git a/bundles/org.eclipse.ui.ide/src/org/eclipse/ui/internal/ide/IDEInternalPreferences.java b/bundles/org.eclipse.ui.ide/src/org/eclipse/ui/internal/ide/IDEInternalPreferences.java
index 1e6e940802c..955ee4aba3c 100644
--- a/bundles/org.eclipse.ui.ide/src/org/eclipse/ui/internal/ide/IDEInternalPreferences.java
+++ b/bundles/org.eclipse.ui.ide/src/org/eclipse/ui/internal/ide/IDEInternalPreferences.java
@@ -179,4 +179,9 @@ public interface IDEInternalPreferences {
 	 */
 	String HELP_CONTEXT_AVAILABILITY_CHECK = "helpContextAvailabilityCheck"; //$NON-NLS-1$
 
+	/**
+	 * The default value to use for 'items per group' when using limits in the
+	 * problem view.
+	 */
+	int MARKER_LIMITS_VALUE_DEFAULT = 100;
 }
diff --git a/bundles/org.eclipse.ui.ide/src/org/eclipse/ui/internal/ide/IDEPreferenceInitializer.java b/bundles/org.eclipse.ui.ide/src/org/eclipse/ui/internal/ide/IDEPreferenceInitializer.java
index 7978720f57e..9c01f2326e4 100644
--- a/bundles/org.eclipse.ui.ide/src/org/eclipse/ui/internal/ide/IDEPreferenceInitializer.java
+++ b/bundles/org.eclipse.ui.ide/src/org/eclipse/ui/internal/ide/IDEPreferenceInitializer.java
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ public void initializeDefaultPreferences() {
 		node.putInt(IDEInternalPreferences.PROBLEMS_LIMIT, 100);
 
 		node.putBoolean(IDEInternalPreferences.USE_MARKER_LIMITS, true);
-		node.putInt(IDEInternalPreferences.MARKER_LIMITS_VALUE, 100);
+		node.putInt(IDEInternalPreferences.MARKER_LIMITS_VALUE, IDEInternalPreferences.MARKER_LIMITS_VALUE_DEFAULT);
 
 		node.put(IDEInternalPreferences.IMPORT_FILES_AND_FOLDERS_TYPE, ""); //$NON-NLS-1$
 		node.putBoolean(IDEInternalPreferences.IMPORT_FILES_AND_FOLDERS_RELATIVE, true);
diff --git a/bundles/org.eclipse.ui.ide/src/org/eclipse/ui/internal/views/markers/FiltersConfigurationDialog.java b/bundles/org.eclipse.ui.ide/src/org/eclipse/ui/internal/views/markers/FiltersConfigurationDialog.java
index 2c1bf5baf65..5d765f283fb 100644
--- a/bundles/org.eclipse.ui.ide/src/org/eclipse/ui/internal/views/markers/FiltersConfigurationDialog.java
+++ b/bundles/org.eclipse.ui.ide/src/org/eclipse/ui/internal/views/markers/FiltersConfigurationDialog.java
@@ -707,7 +707,8 @@ protected void performDefaults() {
 
 		IPreferenceStore preferenceStore = IDEWorkbenchPlugin.getDefault().getPreferenceStore();
 		boolean useMarkerLimits = preferenceStore.getBoolean(IDEInternalPreferences.USE_MARKER_LIMITS);
-		int markerLimits = useMarkerLimits ? preferenceStore.getInt(IDEInternalPreferences.MARKER_LIMITS_VALUE) : 1000;
+		int markerLimits = useMarkerLimits ? preferenceStore.getInt(IDEInternalPreferences.MARKER_LIMITS_VALUE)
+				: IDEInternalPreferences.MARKER_LIMITS_VALUE_DEFAULT;
 
 		limitButton.setSelection(useMarkerLimits);
 		updateLimitTextEnablement();