diff --git a/yum/config.py b/yum/config.py
index 2219605..13efd9e 100644
--- a/yum/config.py
+++ b/yum/config.py
@@ -653,7 +653,7 @@ class YumConf(StartupConf):
     #  Time in seconds (1.5h), yum-updatesd runs once per. hour by default
     # this time means we don't do interactive network checks/updates if
     # yum-updatesd is running.
-    metadata_expire = SecondsOption(60 * 90)
+    metadata_expire = SecondsOption(60 * 60 * 6) # 6 hours
     mirrorlist_expire = SecondsOption(86400) # time in seconds (1 day)
     rpm_check_debug = BoolOption(True)
     disable_excludes = ListOption()