diff --git a/manager/profiles.py b/manager/profiles.py
index ab0c7ac..b6ab083 100644
--- a/manager/profiles.py
+++ b/manager/profiles.py
@@ -700,7 +700,7 @@ async def _run_bot(
                 if b.channel_gid and not config.get("rss_populated"):
                     # first run for this feed: fill the channel with the latest items so new
                     # subscribers see content (recent history). Done once, then flagged.
-                    await _rss_poll(b, chat, b.channel_gid, config, seed=False, max_post=5)
+                    await _rss_poll(b, chat, b.channel_gid, config, seed=False, max_post=20)
                     config["rss_populated"] = True
                     import db as _db
                     _db.update_config(profile_id, config)