diff --git a/docker/vttestserver/Dockerfile.mysql57 b/docker/vttestserver/Dockerfile.mysql57
index 20b25c8ae09..1f80ab96564 100644
--- a/docker/vttestserver/Dockerfile.mysql57
+++ b/docker/vttestserver/Dockerfile.mysql57
@@ -57,5 +57,6 @@ USER vitess
 
 COPY docker/vttestserver/setup_vschema_folder.sh /vt/setup_vschema_folder.sh
 COPY docker/vttestserver/run.sh /vt/run.sh
+RUN bash -c 'echo "max_connections = 1000"' >> /vt/config/mycnf/default-fast.cnf
 
 CMD /vt/run.sh "5.7.9-vitess"
diff --git a/docker/vttestserver/Dockerfile.mysql80 b/docker/vttestserver/Dockerfile.mysql80
index 10c68e24e2b..9061333db31 100644
--- a/docker/vttestserver/Dockerfile.mysql80
+++ b/docker/vttestserver/Dockerfile.mysql80
@@ -57,5 +57,6 @@ USER vitess
 
 COPY docker/vttestserver/setup_vschema_folder.sh /vt/setup_vschema_folder.sh
 COPY docker/vttestserver/run.sh /vt/run.sh
+RUN bash -c 'echo "max_connections = 1000"' >> /vt/config/mycnf/default-fast.cnf
 
 CMD /vt/run.sh "8.0.21-vitess"