diff --git a/ant-networking/src/lib.rs b/ant-networking/src/lib.rs
index c43cdcdf8e..434aa192ad 100644
--- a/ant-networking/src/lib.rs
+++ b/ant-networking/src/lib.rs
@@ -1111,7 +1111,8 @@ impl Network {
             );
         }
 
-        let closest_peers = sort_peers_by_address(&closest_peers, key, CLOSE_GROUP_SIZE + 1)?;
+        let expanded_close_group = CLOSE_GROUP_SIZE + CLOSE_GROUP_SIZE / 2;
+        let closest_peers = sort_peers_by_address(&closest_peers, key, expanded_close_group)?;
         Ok(closest_peers.into_iter().cloned().collect())
     }