diff --git a/c7n/utils.py b/c7n/utils.py
index d23e6a0c4b0..ffa2bf44580 100644
--- a/c7n/utils.py
+++ b/c7n/utils.py
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ def backoff_delays(start, stop, factor=2.0, jitter=False):
     cur = start
     while cur <= stop:
         if jitter:
-            yield cur - (cur * random.random())
+            yield cur - (cur * random.random() / 2)
         else:
             yield cur
         cur = cur * factor