diff --git a/golem/marketplace/wasm_marketplace.py b/golem/marketplace/wasm_marketplace.py
index 23c3bb2fd4..437cea2929 100644
--- a/golem/marketplace/wasm_marketplace.py
+++ b/golem/marketplace/wasm_marketplace.py
@@ -25,8 +25,11 @@
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+USAGE_SECOND = 1e9  # usage is measured in nanoseconds
+
+
 class RequestorWasmMarketStrategy(RequestorPoolingMarketStrategy):
-    DEFAULT_USAGE_BENCHMARK: float = 1.0
+    DEFAULT_USAGE_BENCHMARK: float = 1.0 * USAGE_SECOND
 
     _usages: ClassVar[Dict[str, float]] = dict()
     _usage_factors: ClassVar[Dict[str, float]] = dict()
@@ -39,6 +42,8 @@ def get_my_usage_benchmark(cls) -> float:
 
     @classmethod
     def set_my_usage_benchmark(cls, benchmark: float) -> None:
+        if benchmark < 1e-6 * USAGE_SECOND:
+            benchmark = cls.DEFAULT_USAGE_BENCHMARK
         logger.info("RWMS: set_my_usage_benchmark %.3f", benchmark)
         cls._my_usage_benchmark = benchmark
 
@@ -49,8 +54,13 @@ def get_usage_factor(cls, provider_id, usage_benchmark):
             # Division goes this way since higher benchmark val means
             # faster processor
             usage_factor = cls.get_my_usage_benchmark() / usage_benchmark
-            if not usage_factor:
-                usage_factor = 1.0
+
+            # Sanity check against misreported benchmarks
+            usage_factor = min(max(usage_factor, 0.25), 1.5)
+            logger.info("RWMS: initial usage factor for %s = %.3f",
+                        provider_id,
+                        usage_factor)
+
             cls._usage_factors[provider_id] = usage_factor
         return usage_factor
 
diff --git a/tests/golem/marketplace/test_wasm_marketplace.py b/tests/golem/marketplace/test_wasm_marketplace.py
index b2d34d9cd8..01940bd8bf 100644
--- a/tests/golem/marketplace/test_wasm_marketplace.py
+++ b/tests/golem/marketplace/test_wasm_marketplace.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 from golem.marketplace import ProviderPerformance
 from golem.marketplace.wasm_marketplace import RequestorWasmMarketStrategy
 
+USAGE_SECOND = 1e9  # usage is measured in nanoseconds
+
 
 class TestOfferChoice(TestCase):
     TASK_1 = 'task_1'
@@ -21,7 +23,8 @@ def setUp(self):
         mock_offer_1.quality = (.0, .0, .0, .0)
         mock_offer_1.reputation = .0
         mock_offer_1.price = 5.0
-        mock_offer_1.provider_performance = ProviderPerformance(1000 / 1.25)
+        mock_offer_1.provider_performance = ProviderPerformance(
+            1 * USAGE_SECOND / 1.25)
         self.mock_offer_1 = mock_offer_1
 
         mock_offer_2 = Mock()
@@ -29,15 +32,20 @@ def setUp(self):
         mock_offer_2.quality = (.0, .0, .0, .0)
         mock_offer_2.reputation = .0
         mock_offer_2.price = 6.0
-        mock_offer_2.provider_performance = ProviderPerformance(1000 / 0.8)
+        mock_offer_2.provider_performance = ProviderPerformance(
+            1 * USAGE_SECOND / 0.8)
         self.mock_offer_2 = mock_offer_2
 
     def test_get_usage_benchmark(self):
         self.assertEqual(
-            RequestorWasmMarketStrategy.get_my_usage_benchmark(), 1.0
+            RequestorWasmMarketStrategy.get_my_usage_benchmark(),
+            RequestorWasmMarketStrategy.DEFAULT_USAGE_BENCHMARK
         )
         self.assertEqual(
-            RequestorWasmMarketStrategy.get_usage_factor(self.PROVIDER_1, 1.0),
+            RequestorWasmMarketStrategy.get_usage_factor(
+                self.PROVIDER_1,
+                RequestorWasmMarketStrategy.DEFAULT_USAGE_BENCHMARK
+            ),
             1.0
         )