diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d2d6828..7b5da14 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ Some decisions need to be made on the client side, and most of those will be exp
 | `SYNC_SCHEDULE` | (`0 21 * * 5`) | `cron`-formatted schedule for when the client should initiate a sync (example syncs at 9PM on Friday night) |
 | `SYNC_DELAY` | `true` (`false`) | if true, sleeps a random number of seconds before begining the sync |
 | `SYNC_DELAY_MAX_SECONDS` | (`21600`) | maximum seconds to sleep (example will be delayed up to 6 hours) |
+| `SYNC_MAX_BW` | `1.5m` (`0`) | `rsync` bandwidth limit; `1.5m` caps at 1.5MB/s, `0` is unlimited | 
 | `TLS_NAME` | `library.bowdre.net` | if set, the FQDN used for the client's web server; if not set, the library will be served strictly over HTTP |
 | `TLS_CUSTOM_CERT` | `true` (`false`) | if `true`, the web server will expect to find a custom certificate *and private key* in the `./data/certs` volume |
 | `LIBRARY_NAME` | (`Library`) | this name will show up in the generated Content Library JSON, but not anywhere else |
@@ -183,6 +184,7 @@ services:
       - SYNC_SCHEDULE=0 21 * * 5
       - SYNC_DELAY=true
       - SYNC_DELAY_MAX_SECONDS=21600
+      - SYNC_MAX_KBPS=0
       - TLS_NAME=library.lab.bowdre.net
       - TLS_CUSTOM_CERT=true
       - LIBRARY_NAME=Library
diff --git a/client/build/sync.sh b/client/build/sync.sh
index 4e93e9c..3fecd9b 100644
--- a/client/build/sync.sh
+++ b/client/build/sync.sh
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ fi
 
 echo -e "[$(date +"%Y/%m/%d-%H:%M:%S")] Sync sync starts NOW!"
 # sync
-/usr/bin/rsync -e "ssh -l syncer -p ${SYNC_PORT:-2222} -i /syncer/.ssh/id_syncer -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no" -av --exclude '*.json' $SYNC_PEER:/ /syncer/library
+/usr/bin/rsync --bwlimit=${SYNC_MAX_BW:-0} -e "ssh -l syncer -p ${SYNC_PORT:-2222} -i /syncer/.ssh/id_syncer -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no" -av --exclude '*.json' $SYNC_PEER:/ /syncer/library
 
 # generate content library manifest
 echo -e "[$(date +"%Y/%m/%d-%H:%M:%S")] Generating content library manifest..."
diff --git a/client/docker-compose.yaml b/client/docker-compose.yaml
index 621f323..da159d1 100644
--- a/client/docker-compose.yaml
+++ b/client/docker-compose.yaml
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ services:
       - SYNC_SCHEDULE=0 21 * * 5
       - SYNC_DELAY=true
       - SYNC_DELAY_MAX_SECONDS=21600
+      - SYNC_MAX_KBPS=0
       - TLS_NAME=library.lab.bowdre.net
       - TLS_CUSTOM_CERT=true
       - LIBRARY_NAME=Library