diff --git a/lib/pleroma/application_requirements.ex b/lib/pleroma/application_requirements.ex
index b977257a3..e61576644 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/application_requirements.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/application_requirements.ex
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ defmodule Pleroma.ApplicationRequirements do
     |> check_migrations_applied!()
     |> check_welcome_message_config!()
     |> check_rum!()
+    |> check_repo_pool_size!()
     |> handle_result()
   end
 
@@ -188,6 +189,30 @@ defmodule Pleroma.ApplicationRequirements do
 
   defp check_system_commands!(result), do: result
 
+  defp check_repo_pool_size!(:ok) do
+    if Pleroma.Config.get([Pleroma.Repo, :pool_size], 10) != 10 and
+         not Pleroma.Config.get([:dangerzone, :override_repo_pool_size], false) do
+      Logger.error("""
+      !!!CONFIG WARNING!!!
+
+      The database pool size has been altered from the recommended value of 10.
+
+      Please revert or ensure your database is tuned appropriately and then set
+      `config :pleroma, :dangerzone, override_repo_pool_size: true`.
+
+      If you are experiencing database timeouts, please check the "Optimizing
+      your PostgreSQL performance" section in the documentation. If you still
+      encounter issues after that, please open an issue on the tracker.
+      """)
+
+      {:error, "Repo.pool_size different than recommended value."}
+    else
+      :ok
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp check_repo_pool_size!(result), do: result
+
   defp check_filter(filter, command_required) do
     filters = Config.get([Pleroma.Upload, :filters])
 
diff --git a/test/pleroma/application_requirements_test.exs b/test/pleroma/application_requirements_test.exs
index c505ae229..b432dbc37 100644
--- a/test/pleroma/application_requirements_test.exs
+++ b/test/pleroma/application_requirements_test.exs
@@ -12,6 +12,25 @@ defmodule Pleroma.ApplicationRequirementsTest do
   alias Pleroma.Config
   alias Pleroma.Repo
 
+  describe "check_repo_pool_size!/1" do
+    test "raises if the pool size is unexpected" do
+      clear_config([Pleroma.Repo, :pool_size], 11)
+
+      assert_raise Pleroma.ApplicationRequirements.VerifyError,
+                   "Repo.pool_size different than recommended value.",
+                   fn ->
+                     capture_log(&Pleroma.ApplicationRequirements.verify!/0)
+                   end
+    end
+
+    test "doesn't raise if the pool size is unexpected but the respective flag is set" do
+      clear_config([Pleroma.Repo, :pool_size], 11)
+      clear_config([:dangerzone, :override_repo_pool_size], true)
+
+      assert Pleroma.ApplicationRequirements.verify!() == :ok
+    end
+  end
+
   describe "check_welcome_message_config!/1" do
     setup do: clear_config([:welcome])
     setup do: clear_config([Pleroma.Emails.Mailer])