diff --git a/repair/row_level.cc b/repair/row_level.cc
index 4040735acb..67b921256f 100644
--- a/repair/row_level.cc
+++ b/repair/row_level.cc
@@ -297,13 +297,21 @@ mutation_reader repair_reader::make_reader(
             return rd;
         }
         case read_strategy::multishard_split: {
+            std::optional<size_t> multishard_reader_buffer_size;
+            const auto& dbconfig = db.local().get_config();
+            if (dbconfig.repair_multishard_reader_buffer_hint_size()) {
+                // Setting the repair buffer size as the multishard reader's buffer
+                // size helps avoid extra cross-shard round-trips and possible
+                // evict-recreate cycles.
+                multishard_reader_buffer_size = dbconfig.repair_multishard_reader_buffer_hint_size();
+            }
             return make_multishard_streaming_reader(db, _schema, _permit, [this] {
                 auto shard_range = _sharder.next();
                 if (shard_range) {
                     return std::optional<dht::partition_range>(dht::to_partition_range(*shard_range));
                 }
                 return std::optional<dht::partition_range>();
-            }, compaction_time, {});
+            }, compaction_time, multishard_reader_buffer_size);
         }
         case read_strategy::multishard_filter: {
             return make_filtering_reader(make_multishard_streaming_reader(db, _schema, _permit, _range, compaction_time, {}),