diff --git a/rpc/src/rpc.rs b/rpc/src/rpc.rs
index b6627bd635..ec3cf14af1 100644
--- a/rpc/src/rpc.rs
+++ b/rpc/src/rpc.rs
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ pub struct JsonRpcConfig {
     pub max_multiple_accounts: Option<usize>,
     pub account_indexes: AccountSecondaryIndexes,
     pub rpc_threads: usize,
+    pub rpc_niceness_adj: i8,
     pub rpc_bigtable_timeout: Option<Duration>,
     pub minimal_api: bool,
     pub obsolete_v1_7_api: bool,
diff --git a/rpc/src/rpc_service.rs b/rpc/src/rpc_service.rs
index 0d1eb13c90..105cc77226 100644
--- a/rpc/src/rpc_service.rs
+++ b/rpc/src/rpc_service.rs
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ use {
         leader_schedule_cache::LeaderScheduleCache,
     },
     solana_metrics::inc_new_counter_info,
+    solana_perf::thread::renice_this_thread,
     solana_poh::poh_recorder::PohRecorder,
     solana_runtime::{
         bank_forks::BankForks, commitment::BlockCommitmentCache,
@@ -305,6 +306,7 @@ impl JsonRpcService {
         info!("rpc bound to {:?}", rpc_addr);
         info!("rpc configuration: {:?}", config);
         let rpc_threads = 1.max(config.rpc_threads);
+        let rpc_niceness_adj = config.rpc_niceness_adj;
 
         let health = Arc::new(RpcHealth::new(
             cluster_info.clone(),
@@ -328,6 +330,7 @@ impl JsonRpcService {
         let runtime = Arc::new(
             tokio::runtime::Builder::new_multi_thread()
                 .worker_threads(rpc_threads)
+                .on_thread_start(move || renice_this_thread(rpc_niceness_adj).unwrap())
                 .thread_name("sol-rpc-el")
                 .enable_all()
                 .build()
@@ -411,6 +414,8 @@ impl JsonRpcService {
         let thread_hdl = Builder::new()
             .name("solana-jsonrpc".to_string())
             .spawn(move || {
+                renice_this_thread(rpc_niceness_adj).unwrap();
+
                 let mut io = MetaIoHandler::default();
 
                 io.extend_with(rpc_minimal::MinimalImpl.to_delegate());
diff --git a/validator/src/main.rs b/validator/src/main.rs
index 501b1f1fef..34188c347c 100644
--- a/validator/src/main.rs
+++ b/validator/src/main.rs
@@ -1173,6 +1173,16 @@ pub fn main() {
                 .default_value(&default_rpc_threads)
                 .help("Number of threads to use for servicing RPC requests"),
         )
+        .arg(
+            Arg::with_name("rpc_niceness_adj")
+                .long("rpc-niceness-adjustment")
+                .value_name("ADJUSTMENT")
+                .takes_value(true)
+                .validator(is_niceness_adjustment_valid)
+                .default_value("0")
+                .help("Add this value to niceness of RPC threads. Negative value \
+                      increases priority, positive value decreases priority.")
+        )
         .arg(
             Arg::with_name("rpc_bigtable_timeout")
                 .long("rpc-bigtable-timeout")
@@ -2180,6 +2190,7 @@ pub fn main() {
                 u64
             ),
             rpc_threads: value_t_or_exit!(matches, "rpc_threads", usize),
+            rpc_niceness_adj: value_t_or_exit!(matches, "rpc_niceness_adj", i8),
             rpc_bigtable_timeout: value_t!(matches, "rpc_bigtable_timeout", u64)
                 .ok()
                 .map(Duration::from_secs),