diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 8ab8c401c..a9f6f7ea7 100755
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env node
 
+// increase the libuv threadpool size to 1.5x the number of logical CPUs.
+process.env.UV_THREADPOOL_SIZE = Math.ceil(Math.max(4, require('os').cpus().length * 1.5));
+
 var fs = require('fs');
 var path = require('path');
 // node v6 -> v8 compatibility