diff --git a/README b/README
index 8f6c834..47e54c5 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ NOTES
        Optionally:
               Set $_Z_CMD to change the command name (default z).
               Set $_Z_DATA to change the datafile (default $HOME/.z).
+              Set  $_Z_MAX_SCORE  lower  to  age  entries  out faster (default
+              9000).
               Set $_Z_NO_RESOLVE_SYMLINKS to prevent symlink resolution.
               Set $_Z_NO_PROMPT_COMMAND to handle PROMPT_COMMAND/precmd  your-
               self.
diff --git a/z.1 b/z.1
index d4cac1a..182f981 100644
--- a/z.1
+++ b/z.1
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ Set \fB$_Z_CMD\fR to change the command name (default \fBz\fR).
 Set \fB$_Z_DATA\fR to change the datafile (default \fB$HOME/.z\fR).
 .RE
 .RS
+Set \fB$_Z_MAX_SCORE\fR lower to age entries out faster (default \fB9000\fR).
+.RE
+.RS
 Set \fB$_Z_NO_RESOLVE_SYMLINKS\fR to prevent symlink resolution.
 .RE
 .RS
diff --git a/z.sh b/z.sh
index 2b7f87a..22386b4 100644
--- a/z.sh
+++ b/z.sh
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #     * optionally:
 #         set $_Z_CMD in .bashrc/.zshrc to change the command (default z).
 #         set $_Z_DATA in .bashrc/.zshrc to change the datafile (default ~/.z).
+#         set $_Z_MAX_SCORE lower to age entries out faster (default 9000).
 #         set $_Z_NO_RESOLVE_SYMLINKS to prevent symlink resolution.
 #         set $_Z_NO_PROMPT_COMMAND if you're handling PROMPT_COMMAND yourself.
 #         set $_Z_EXCLUDE_DIRS to an array of directories to exclude.
@@ -62,7 +63,8 @@ _z() {
 
         # maintain the data file
         local tempfile="$datafile.$RANDOM"
-        _z_dirs | awk -v path="$*" -v now="$(date +%s)" -F"|" '
+        local score=${_Z_MAX_SCORE:-9000}
+        _z_dirs | awk -v path="$*" -v now="$(date +%s)" -v score=$score -F"|" '
             BEGIN {
                 rank[path] = 1
                 time[path] = now
@@ -79,7 +81,7 @@ _z() {
                 count += $2
             }
             END {
-                if( count > 9000 ) {
+                if( count > score ) {
                     # aging
                     for( x in rank ) print x "|" 0.99*rank[x] "|" time[x]
                 } else for( x in rank ) print x "|" rank[x] "|" time[x]