diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -1361,6 +1361,11 @@
                    ArgsManager::ALLOW_ANY, OptionsCategory::AVALANCHE);
     argsman.AddArg("-avasessionkey", "Avalanche session key (default: random)",
                    ArgsManager::ALLOW_ANY, OptionsCategory::AVALANCHE);
+    argsman.AddArg(
+        "-maxavalancheoutbound",
+        "Set the maximum number of avalanche outbound peers to connect to. "
+        "Note that the -maxconnections option takes precedence.",
+        ArgsManager::ALLOW_INT, OptionsCategory::AVALANCHE);
 
     // Add the hidden options
     argsman.AddHiddenArgs(hidden_args);
@@ -3048,11 +3053,12 @@
     CConnman::Options connOptions;
     connOptions.nLocalServices = nLocalServices;
     connOptions.nMaxConnections = nMaxConnections;
-    connOptions.m_max_avalanche_outbound =
-        std::min(g_avalanche && isAvalancheEnabled(args)
-                     ? MAX_AVALANCHE_OUTBOUND_CONNECTIONS
-                     : 0,
-                 connOptions.nMaxConnections);
+    connOptions.m_max_avalanche_outbound = std::min<int64_t>(
+        g_avalanche && isAvalancheEnabled(args)
+            ? args.GetArg("-maxavalancheoutbound",
+                          DEFAULT_MAX_AVALANCHE_OUTBOUND_CONNECTIONS)
+            : 0,
+        connOptions.nMaxConnections);
     connOptions.m_max_outbound_full_relay = std::min(
         MAX_OUTBOUND_FULL_RELAY_CONNECTIONS,
         connOptions.nMaxConnections - connOptions.m_max_avalanche_outbound);
diff --git a/src/net.h b/src/net.h
--- a/src/net.h
+++ b/src/net.h
@@ -69,8 +69,11 @@
 static const int MAX_ADDNODE_CONNECTIONS = 8;
 /** Maximum number of block-relay-only outgoing connections */
 static const int MAX_BLOCK_RELAY_ONLY_CONNECTIONS = 2;
-/** Maximum number of avalanche enabled outgoing connections */
-static const int MAX_AVALANCHE_OUTBOUND_CONNECTIONS = 16;
+/**
+ * Maximum number of avalanche enabled outgoing connections by default.
+ * Can be overridden with the -maxavalancheoutbound option.
+ */
+static const int DEFAULT_MAX_AVALANCHE_OUTBOUND_CONNECTIONS = 16;
 /** Maximum number of feeler connections */
 static const int MAX_FEELER_CONNECTIONS = 1;
 /** -listen default */
diff --git a/test/functional/p2p_add_connections.py b/test/functional/p2p_add_connections.py
--- a/test/functional/p2p_add_connections.py
+++ b/test/functional/p2p_add_connections.py
@@ -13,9 +13,12 @@
 
 # From net.h
 MAX_OUTBOUND_FULL_RELAY_CONNECTIONS = 16
-MAX_AVALANCHE_OUTBOUND_CONNECTIONS = 16
 MAX_BLOCK_RELAY_ONLY_CONNECTIONS = 2
 
+# Override DEFAULT_MAX_AVALANCHE_OUTBOUND_CONNECTIONS with
+# -maxavalancheoutbound
+MAX_AVALANCHE_OUTBOUND_CONNECTIONS = 12
+
 
 class P2PFeelerReceiver(P2PInterface):
     def on_version(self, message):
@@ -29,7 +32,13 @@
 class P2PAddConnections(BitcoinTestFramework):
     def set_test_params(self):
         self.num_nodes = 2
-        self.extra_args = [["-enableavalanche=1"], []]
+        self.extra_args = [
+            [
+                "-enableavalanche=1",
+                f"-maxavalancheoutbound={MAX_AVALANCHE_OUTBOUND_CONNECTIONS}"
+            ],
+            []
+        ]
 
     def setup_network(self):
         self.setup_nodes()