safe_write(fd, buf->buf, buf->len);
 }
 
+#define INITIAL_FLUSH 32
+
+static int next_flush(int count)
+{
+       return INITIAL_FLUSH + count;
+}
+
 static int find_common(int fd[2], unsigned char *result_sha1,
                       struct ref *refs)
 {
        int fetching;
-       int count = 0, flushes = 0, retval;
+       int count = 0, flushes = 0, flush_at = INITIAL_FLUSH, retval;
        const unsigned char *sha1;
        unsigned in_vain = 0;
        int got_continue = 0;
                if (args.verbose)
                        fprintf(stderr, "have %s\n", sha1_to_hex(sha1));
                in_vain++;
-               if (!(31 & ++count)) {
+               if (flush_at <= ++count) {
                        int ack;
 
                        packet_buf_flush(&req_buf);
                        send_request(fd[1], &req_buf);
                        strbuf_setlen(&req_buf, state_len);
                        flushes++;
+                       flush_at = next_flush(count);
 
                        /*
                         * We keep one window "ahead" of the other side, and
                         * will wait for an ACK only on the next one
                         */
-                       if (!args.stateless_rpc && count == 32)
+                       if (!args.stateless_rpc && count == INITIAL_FLUSH)
                                continue;
 
                        consume_shallow_list(fd[0]);