diff --git a/frappe/api.py b/frappe/api.py
index 8f93e4fb52..dff2c5c23f 100644
--- a/frappe/api.py
+++ b/frappe/api.py
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ def handle():
 				if frappe.local.request.method=="GET":
 					if frappe.local.form_dict.get('fields'):
 						frappe.local.form_dict['fields'] = json.loads(frappe.local.form_dict['fields'])
+					frappe.local.form_dict.setdefault('limit_page_length', 20)
 					frappe.local.response.update({
 						"data":  frappe.call(frappe.client.get_list,
 							doctype, **frappe.local.form_dict)})
diff --git a/frappe/client.py b/frappe/client.py
index 50e6f6cfca..488f22fc83 100644
--- a/frappe/client.py
+++ b/frappe/client.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import json, os
 
 @frappe.whitelist()
 def get_list(doctype, fields=None, filters=None, order_by=None,
-	limit_start=None, limit_page_length=None):
+	limit_start=None, limit_page_length=20):
 	return frappe.get_list(doctype, fields=fields, filters=filters, order_by=order_by,
 		limit_start=limit_start, limit_page_length=limit_page_length, ignore_permissions=True)