diff --git a/src/main/groovy/de/dkfz/roddy/execution/jobs/cluster/lsf/LSFJobManager.groovy b/src/main/groovy/de/dkfz/roddy/execution/jobs/cluster/lsf/LSFJobManager.groovy
index 605091c6..f444eec8 100644
--- a/src/main/groovy/de/dkfz/roddy/execution/jobs/cluster/lsf/LSFJobManager.groovy
+++ b/src/main/groovy/de/dkfz/roddy/execution/jobs/cluster/lsf/LSFJobManager.groovy
@@ -45,8 +45,16 @@ class LSFJobManager extends AbstractLSFJobManager {
 
     static final DateTimeHelper dateTimeHelper = new DateTimeHelper()
 
+    /**
+     * LSF supports retrying the submission command multiple times. The default is to retry for a very long time,
+     * which is also blocking the execution of the thread. A single retry usually works but is failing
+     * too frequently, in particular if there is load on the LSF system. The current number of LSB_NTRIES is a
+     * compromise between blocking endlessly and having no failover.
+     *
+     * @return a Bash environment variable declaration affecting LSF commands.
+     */
     final static String getEnvironmentString() {
-        return "LSB_NTRIES=1"
+        return "LSB_NTRIES=5"
     }
 
     LSFJobManager(BEExecutionService executionService, JobManagerOptions parms) {