diff --git a/packages/backend/src/boot/index.ts b/packages/backend/src/boot/index.ts
index 4e1d94765..e4f2ed7b1 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/boot/index.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/boot/index.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import { envOption } from "../env.js";
 import "reflect-metadata";
 import { masterMain } from "./master.js";
 import { workerMain } from "./worker.js";
+import os from "node:os";
 
 const logger = new Logger("core", "cyan");
 const clusterLogger = logger.createSubLogger("cluster", "orange", false);
@@ -31,6 +32,16 @@ export default async function () {
 		await workerMain();
 	}
 
+	if (cluster.isPrimary) {
+		// Leave the master process with a marginally lower priority but not too low.
+		os.setPriority(2);
+	}
+	if (cluster.isWorker) {
+		// Set workers to a much lower priority so that the master process will be
+		// able to respond to api calls even if the workers gank everything.
+		os.setPriority(10);
+	}
+
 	// For when Calckey is started in a child process during unit testing.
 	// Otherwise, process.send cannot be used, so start it.
 	if (process.send) {