diff --git a/modules/Markov.py b/modules/Markov.py
index 5c413d3..c7376c4 100644
--- a/modules/Markov.py
+++ b/modules/Markov.py
@@ -383,10 +383,16 @@ class Markov(Module):
                     self.log.debug("working_backwards: {0:s}".format(" ".join(working_backwards)))
 
                     # now work backwards until we randomly bump into a start
+                    # to steer the chainer away from spending too much time on
+                    # the weaker-context reverse chaining, we make max_size
+                    # a non-linear distribution, making it more likely that
+                    # some time is spent on better forward chains
+                    max_back = random.randint(1, max_size/2) + random.randint(1, max_size/2)
+                    self.log.debug("max_back: {0:d}".format(max_back))
                     while True:
                         key_hits = self._retrieve_k2_for_value(working_backwards[0], context_id)
-                        if self.start2 in key_hits and len(working_backwards) > 2:
-                            self.log.debug("working backwards forced start, finishing")
+                        if self.start2 in key_hits and len(working_backwards) > max_back:
+                            self.log.debug("max_back exceeded, cleanly finishing")
                             gen_words += working_backwards
                             self.log.debug("gen_words: {0:s}".format(" ".join(gen_words)))
                             break