diff --git a/tools/bootconfig/test-bootconfig.sh b/tools/bootconfig/test-bootconfig.sh
index f68e2e9eef8b..a2c484c243f5 100755
--- a/tools/bootconfig/test-bootconfig.sh
+++ b/tools/bootconfig/test-bootconfig.sh
@@ -87,10 +87,14 @@ xfail grep -i "error" $OUTFILE
 
 echo "Max node number check"
 
-echo -n > $TEMPCONF
-for i in `seq 1 1024` ; do
-   echo "node$i" >> $TEMPCONF
-done
+awk '
+BEGIN {
+  for (i = 0; i < 26; i += 1)
+      printf("%c\n", 65 + i % 26)
+  for (i = 26; i < 8192; i += 1)
+      printf("%c%c%c\n", 65 + i % 26, 65 + (i / 26) % 26, 65 + (i / 26 / 26))
+}
+' > $TEMPCONF
 xpass $BOOTCONF -a $TEMPCONF $INITRD
 
 echo "badnode" >> $TEMPCONF