diff --git a/helix-core/src/indent.rs b/helix-core/src/indent.rs
index c9415d1d5..b4b2fe6a4 100644
--- a/helix-core/src/indent.rs
+++ b/helix-core/src/indent.rs
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ pub enum IndentStyle {
     Spaces(u8),
 }
 
-// 16 spaces
-const INDENTS: &str = "                ";
-pub const MAX_INDENT: u8 = 16;
+// 128 spaces
+const INDENTS: &str = "                                                                                                                                ";
+pub const MAX_INDENT: u8 = 128;
 
 impl IndentStyle {
     /// Creates an `IndentStyle` from an indentation string.
diff --git a/helix-core/src/syntax/config.rs b/helix-core/src/syntax/config.rs
index 432611bb0..2b89cba30 100644
--- a/helix-core/src/syntax/config.rs
+++ b/helix-core/src/syntax/config.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::{auto_pairs::AutoPairs, diagnostic::Severity, Language};
+use crate::{auto_pairs::AutoPairs, diagnostic::Severity, indent::MAX_INDENT, Language};
 
 use globset::GlobSet;
 use helix_stdx::rope;
@@ -595,12 +595,13 @@ where
     D: serde::Deserializer<'de>,
 {
     usize::deserialize(deserializer).and_then(|n| {
-        if n > 0 && n <= 16 {
+        if n > 0 && n <= MAX_INDENT.into() {
             Ok(n)
         } else {
-            Err(serde::de::Error::custom(
-                "tab width must be a value from 1 to 16 inclusive",
-            ))
+            Err(serde::de::Error::custom(format!(
+                "tab width must be a value from 1 to {} inclusive",
+                MAX_INDENT
+            )))
         }
     })
 }