diff --git a/test/test_read_write_concern_spec.py b/test/test_read_write_concern_spec.py
index 568eb5c95..510792dac 100644
--- a/test/test_read_write_concern_spec.py
+++ b/test/test_read_write_concern_spec.py
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@ from pymongo.operations import IndexModel, InsertOne
 from pymongo.read_concern import ReadConcern
 from pymongo.write_concern import WriteConcern
 from test import client_context, unittest
-from test.utils import (IMPOSSIBLE_WRITE_CONCERN,
-                        EventListener,
+from test.utils import (EventListener,
                         disable_replication,
                         enable_replication,
                         rs_or_single_client)
diff --git a/test/utils.py b/test/utils.py
index 81c57b5aa..768a77996 100644
--- a/test/utils.py
+++ b/test/utils.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ from test import (client_context,
                   db_user,
                   db_pwd)
 
-IMPOSSIBLE_WRITE_CONCERN = WriteConcern(w=1000)
+IMPOSSIBLE_WRITE_CONCERN = WriteConcern(w=50)
 
 
 class WhiteListEventListener(monitoring.CommandListener):