diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index 29609eb4..cc39eff1 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ Suggests:
   arrow (>= 3.0.0),
   bs4Dash (>= 2.0.0),
   clustermq (>= 0.9.1),
-  crew (>= 0.6.0),
+  crew (>= 0.6.0.9004),
   curl (>= 4.3),
   DT (>= 0.14),
   dplyr (>= 1.0.0),
diff --git a/R/class_crew.R b/R/class_crew.R
index 2c0740cd..19ad3cce 100644
--- a/R/class_crew.R
+++ b/R/class_crew.R
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ crew_init <- function(
   seconds_meta_append = 0,
   seconds_meta_upload = 15,
   seconds_reporter = 0,
+  seconds_scale = 0.5,
   garbage_collection = FALSE,
   envir = tar_option_get("envir"),
   controller = NULL,
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ crew_init <- function(
     seconds_meta_append = seconds_meta_append,
     seconds_meta_upload = seconds_meta_upload,
     seconds_reporter = seconds_reporter,
+    seconds_scale = seconds_scale,
     garbage_collection = garbage_collection,
     envir = envir,
     controller = controller,
@@ -40,6 +42,7 @@ crew_new <- function(
   seconds_meta_append = NULL,
   seconds_meta_upload = NULL,
   seconds_reporter = NULL,
+  seconds_scale = NULL,
   garbage_collection = NULL,
   envir = NULL,
   controller = NULL,
@@ -55,6 +58,7 @@ crew_new <- function(
     seconds_meta_append = seconds_meta_append,
     seconds_meta_upload = seconds_meta_upload,
     seconds_reporter = seconds_reporter,
+    seconds_scale = seconds_scale,
     garbage_collection = garbage_collection,
     envir = envir,
     controller = controller,
@@ -70,6 +74,8 @@ crew_class <- R6::R6Class(
   public = list(
     controller = NULL,
     terminate_controller = NULL,
+    seconds_scale = NULL,
+    throttle = NULL,
     initialize = function(
       pipeline = NULL,
       meta = NULL,
@@ -80,10 +86,12 @@ crew_class <- R6::R6Class(
       seconds_meta_append = NULL,
       seconds_meta_upload = NULL,
       seconds_reporter = NULL,
+      seconds_scale = NULL,
       garbage_collection = NULL,
       envir = NULL,
       controller = NULL,
-      terminate_controller = NULL
+      terminate_controller = NULL,
+      throttle = NULL
     ) {
       super$initialize(
         pipeline = pipeline,
@@ -100,6 +108,7 @@ crew_class <- R6::R6Class(
       )
       self$controller <- controller
       self$terminate_controller <- terminate_controller
+      self$seconds_scale <- seconds_scale
     },
     produce_exports = function(envir, path_store, is_globalenv = NULL) {
       map(names(envir), ~force(envir[[.x]])) # try to nix high-mem promises
@@ -201,14 +210,16 @@ crew_class <- R6::R6Class(
     iterate = function() {
       self$sync_meta_time()
       queue <- self$scheduler$queue
+      throttle <- self$throttle
+      interval <- throttle$seconds_interval
       if_any(
         queue$should_dequeue(),
         self$process_target(queue$dequeue()),
         self$controller$wait(
           mode = "one",
-          seconds_interval = 0.5,
-          seconds_timeout = 0.5,
-          scale = TRUE
+          seconds_interval = interval,
+          seconds_timeout = interval,
+          scale = throttle$poll()
         )
       )
       self$conclude_worker_task()
@@ -272,6 +283,12 @@ crew_class <- R6::R6Class(
         self$iterate()
       }
     },
+    start = function() {
+      super$start()
+      self$throttle <- crew::crew_throttle(
+        seconds_interval = self$seconds_scale
+      )
+    },
     run = function() {
       self$start()
       on.exit(self$end())
@@ -289,6 +306,17 @@ crew_class <- R6::R6Class(
       tar_assert_lgl(self$terminate_controller)
       tar_assert_scalar(self$terminate_controller)
       tar_assert_none_na(self$terminate_controller)
+      tar_assert_scalar(self$seconds_scale)
+      tar_assert_dbl(self$seconds_scale)
+      tar_assert_none_na(self$seconds_scale)
+      tar_assert_ge(self$seconds_scale, 0)
+      if_any(
+        is.null(self$throttle),
+        NULL, {
+          tar_assert_inherits(self$throttle, "crew_class_throttle")
+          self$throttle$validate()
+        }
+      )
     }
   )
 )
diff --git a/R/tar_config_get.R b/R/tar_config_get.R
index 783280b9..1e5711b4 100644
--- a/R/tar_config_get.R
+++ b/R/tar_config_get.R
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ tar_config_get_project <- function(name, yaml) {
     seconds_meta_append = yaml$seconds_meta_append %|||% 0,
     seconds_meta_upload = yaml$seconds_meta_upload %|||% 15,
     seconds_reporter = yaml$seconds_reporter %|||% 0,
+    seconds_scale = yaml$seconds_scale %|||% 0.5,
     seconds_interval = yaml$seconds_interval,
     shortcut = yaml$shortcut %|||% FALSE,
     store = yaml$store %|||% path_store_default(),
@@ -116,6 +117,7 @@ tar_config_get_convert <- function(name, value) {
     seconds_meta_append = as.numeric(value),
     seconds_meta_upload = as.numeric(value),
     seconds_reporter = as.numeric(value),
+    seconds_scale = as.numeric(value),
     seconds_interval = if_any(is.null(value), NULL, as.numeric(value)),
     shortcut = as.logical(value),
     store = as.character(value),
diff --git a/R/tar_config_set.R b/R/tar_config_set.R
index d5a5a7ac..e71e2c7c 100644
--- a/R/tar_config_set.R
+++ b/R/tar_config_set.R
@@ -93,6 +93,9 @@
 #'   and [tar_make_future()]. Positive numeric of length 1 with the minimum
 #'   number of seconds between times when the reporter prints progress
 #'   messages to the R console.
+#' @param seconds_scale Argument of [tar_make()].
+#'   Positive numeric of length 1, with the time interval (in seconds)
+#'   for auto-scaling `crew` workers if a `crew` controller is supplied.
 #' @param shortcut logical of length 1, default `shortcut` argument
 #'   to [tar_make()] and related functions.
 #'   If the argument `NULL`, the setting is not modified.
@@ -170,6 +173,7 @@ tar_config_set <- function(
   seconds_meta_append = NULL,
   seconds_meta_upload = NULL,
   seconds_reporter = NULL,
+  seconds_scale = NULL,
   seconds_interval = NULL,
   store = NULL,
   shortcut = NULL,
@@ -194,6 +198,7 @@ tar_config_set <- function(
   tar_config_assert_seconds_meta_append(seconds_meta_append)
   tar_config_assert_seconds_meta_upload(seconds_meta_upload)
   tar_config_assert_seconds_reporter(seconds_reporter)
+  tar_config_assert_seconds_scale(seconds_scale)
   tar_config_assert_seconds_interval(seconds_interval)
   tar_config_assert_shortcut(shortcut)
   tar_config_assert_store(store)
@@ -217,6 +222,8 @@ tar_config_set <- function(
     yaml[[project]]$seconds_meta_upload
   yaml[[project]]$seconds_reporter <- seconds_reporter %|||%
     yaml[[project]]$seconds_reporter
+  yaml[[project]]$seconds_scale <- seconds_scale %|||%
+    yaml[[project]]$seconds_scale
   yaml[[project]]$seconds_interval <- seconds_interval %|||%
     yaml[[project]]$seconds_interval
   yaml[[project]]$shortcut <- shortcut %|||% yaml[[project]]$shortcut
@@ -336,6 +343,16 @@ tar_config_assert_seconds_reporter <- function(seconds_reporter) {
   tar_assert_ge(seconds_reporter, 0)
 }
 
+tar_config_assert_seconds_scale <- function(seconds_scale) {
+  if (is.null(seconds_scale)) {
+    return()
+  }
+  tar_assert_dbl(seconds_scale)
+  tar_assert_scalar(seconds_scale)
+  tar_assert_none_na(seconds_scale)
+  tar_assert_ge(seconds_scale, 0)
+}
+
 tar_config_assert_shortcut <- function(shortcut) {
   if (is.null(shortcut)) {
     return()
diff --git a/R/tar_make.R b/R/tar_make.R
index 2a4200bf..afd72f85 100644
--- a/R/tar_make.R
+++ b/R/tar_make.R
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@
 #' @param seconds_reporter Positive numeric of length 1 with the minimum
 #'   number of seconds between times when the reporter prints progress
 #'   messages to the R console.
+#' @param seconds_scale Positive numeric of length 1, with the time interval
+#'   (in seconds) for auto-scaling `crew` workers if a `crew` controller
+#'   is supplied via `tar_option_set()` in `_targets.R`.
 #' @param garbage_collection Logical of length 1. For a `crew`-integrated
 #'   pipeline, whether to run garbage collection on the main process
 #'   before sending a target
@@ -128,6 +131,7 @@ tar_make <- function(
   seconds_meta_append = targets::tar_config_get("seconds_meta_append"),
   seconds_meta_upload = targets::tar_config_get("seconds_meta_upload"),
   seconds_reporter = targets::tar_config_get("seconds_reporter"),
+  seconds_scale = targets::tar_config_get("seconds_scale"),
   seconds_interval = targets::tar_config_get("seconds_interval"),
   callr_function = callr::r,
   callr_arguments = targets::tar_callr_args_default(callr_function, reporter),
@@ -157,6 +161,9 @@ tar_make <- function(
   tar_assert_scalar(seconds_reporter)
   tar_assert_none_na(seconds_reporter)
   tar_assert_ge(seconds_reporter, 0)
+  tar_assert_scalar(seconds_scale)
+  tar_assert_none_na(seconds_scale)
+  tar_assert_ge(seconds_scale, 0)
   tar_deprecate_seconds_interval(seconds_interval)
   tar_assert_lgl(garbage_collection)
   tar_assert_scalar(garbage_collection)
@@ -172,6 +179,7 @@ tar_make <- function(
     seconds_meta_append = seconds_meta_append,
     seconds_meta_upload = seconds_meta_upload,
     seconds_reporter = seconds_reporter,
+    seconds_scale = seconds_scale,
     garbage_collection = garbage_collection,
     use_crew = use_crew,
     terminate_controller = terminate_controller
@@ -198,6 +206,7 @@ tar_make_inner <- function(
   seconds_meta_append,
   seconds_meta_upload,
   seconds_reporter,
+  seconds_scale,
   garbage_collection,
   use_crew,
   terminate_controller
@@ -224,7 +233,7 @@ tar_make_inner <- function(
       envir = tar_option_get("envir")
     )$run()
   } else {
-    tar_assert_package("crew (>= 0.6.0)")
+    tar_assert_package("crew (>= 0.6.0.9004)")
     crew_init(
       pipeline = pipeline,
       meta = meta_init(path_store = path_store),
@@ -235,6 +244,7 @@ tar_make_inner <- function(
       seconds_meta_append = seconds_meta_append,
       seconds_meta_upload = seconds_meta_upload,
       seconds_reporter = seconds_reporter,
+      seconds_scale = seconds_scale,
       garbage_collection = garbage_collection,
       envir = tar_option_get("envir"),
       controller = controller,
diff --git a/man/tar_config_set.Rd b/man/tar_config_set.Rd
index 4238758b..b4d58de8 100644
--- a/man/tar_config_set.Rd
+++ b/man/tar_config_set.Rd
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ tar_config_set(
   seconds_meta_append = NULL,
   seconds_meta_upload = NULL,
   seconds_reporter = NULL,
+  seconds_scale = NULL,
   seconds_interval = NULL,
   store = NULL,
   shortcut = NULL,
@@ -94,6 +95,10 @@ and \code{\link[=tar_make_future]{tar_make_future()}}. Positive numeric of lengt
 number of seconds between times when the reporter prints progress
 messages to the R console.}
 
+\item{seconds_scale}{Argument of \code{\link[=tar_make]{tar_make()}}.
+Positive numeric of length 1, with the time interval (in seconds)
+for auto-scaling \code{crew} workers if a \code{crew} controller is supplied.}
+
 \item{seconds_interval}{Deprecated on 2023-08-24 (version 1.2.2.9001).
 Use \code{seconds_meta_append}, \code{seconds_meta_upload},
 and \code{seconds_reporter} instead.}
diff --git a/man/tar_make.Rd b/man/tar_make.Rd
index bc6558cd..741a2073 100644
--- a/man/tar_make.Rd
+++ b/man/tar_make.Rd
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ tar_make(
   seconds_meta_append = targets::tar_config_get("seconds_meta_append"),
   seconds_meta_upload = targets::tar_config_get("seconds_meta_upload"),
   seconds_reporter = targets::tar_config_get("seconds_reporter"),
+  seconds_scale = targets::tar_config_get("seconds_scale"),
   seconds_interval = targets::tar_config_get("seconds_interval"),
   callr_function = callr::r,
   callr_arguments = targets::tar_callr_args_default(callr_function, reporter),
@@ -87,6 +88,10 @@ regardless of \code{seconds_meta_upload}.}
 number of seconds between times when the reporter prints progress
 messages to the R console.}
 
+\item{seconds_scale}{Positive numeric of length 1, with the time interval
+(in seconds) for auto-scaling \code{crew} workers if a \code{crew} controller
+is supplied via \code{tar_option_set()} in \verb{_targets.R}.}
+
 \item{seconds_interval}{Deprecated on 2023-08-24 (version 1.2.2.9001).
 Use \code{seconds_meta_append}, \code{seconds_meta_upload},
 and \code{seconds_reporter} instead.}
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-class_crew.R b/tests/testthat/test-class_crew.R
index 7365366a..2928a851 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-class_crew.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-class_crew.R
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 tar_test("crew$validate()", {
-  skip_if_not_installed("crew", minimum_version = "0.6.0")
+  skip_if_not_installed("crew", minimum_version = "0.6.0.9004")
   controller <- crew::crew_controller_local(
     host = "127.0.0.1",
     seconds_interval = 0.5
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ tar_test("crew database subkey", {
 
 tar_test("workerless deployment works", {
   skip_on_os("solaris")
-  skip_if_not_installed("crew", minimum_version = "0.6.0")
+  skip_if_not_installed("crew", minimum_version = "0.6.0.9004")
   skip_if_not_installed("R.utils")
   tar_runtime$fun <- "tar_make"
   tar_option_set(backoff = tar_backoff(min = 0.5, max = 0.5))
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ tar_test("semi-workerless deployment works", {
   skip_cran()
   skip_on_os("windows")
   skip_on_os("solaris")
-  skip_if_not_installed("crew", minimum_version = "0.6.0")
+  skip_if_not_installed("crew", minimum_version = "0.6.0.9004")
   skip_if_not_installed("R.utils")
   crew_test_sleep()
   tar_runtime$fun <- "tar_make"
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ tar_test("some targets up to date, some not", {
   skip_cran()
   skip_on_os("windows")
   skip_on_os("solaris")
-  skip_if_not_installed("crew", minimum_version = "0.6.0")
+  skip_if_not_installed("crew", minimum_version = "0.6.0.9004")
   skip_if_not_installed("R.utils")
   tar_runtime$fun <- "tar_make"
   tar_option_set(backoff = tar_backoff(min = 0.5, max = 0.5))
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ tar_test("crew algo can skip targets", {
   skip_cran()
   skip_on_os("windows")
   skip_on_os("solaris")
-  skip_if_not_installed("crew", minimum_version = "0.6.0")
+  skip_if_not_installed("crew", minimum_version = "0.6.0.9004")
   skip_if_not_installed("R.utils")
   tar_runtime$fun <- "tar_make"
   tar_option_set(backoff = tar_backoff(min = 0.5, max = 0.5))
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ tar_test("nontrivial common data", {
   skip_cran()
   skip_on_os("windows")
   skip_on_os("solaris")
-  skip_if_not_installed("crew", minimum_version = "0.6.0")
+  skip_if_not_installed("crew", minimum_version = "0.6.0.9004")
   skip_if_not_installed("R.utils")
   tar_runtime$fun <- "tar_make"
   tar_option_set(backoff = tar_backoff(min = 0.5, max = 0.5))
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-tar_config_set.R b/tests/testthat/test-tar_config_set.R
index f7252fc0..33abb0e6 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-tar_config_set.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-tar_config_set.R
@@ -181,6 +181,21 @@ tar_test("tar_config_set() with seconds_reporter", {
   expect_equal(tar_config_get("seconds_reporter"), 0)
 })
 
+tar_test("tar_config_set() with seconds_scale", {
+  skip_cran()
+  expect_false(file.exists("_targets.yaml"))
+  expect_equal(tar_config_get("seconds_scale"), 0.5)
+  path <- tempfile()
+  tar_config_set(seconds_scale = 10)
+  expect_equal(tar_config_get("seconds_scale"), 10)
+  expect_true(file.exists("_targets.yaml"))
+  tar_config_set()
+  expect_equal(tar_config_get("seconds_scale"), 10)
+  expect_true(file.exists("_targets.yaml"))
+  unlink("_targets.yaml")
+  expect_equal(tar_config_get("seconds_scale"), 0.5)
+})
+
 tar_test("tar_config_set() with seconds_interval", {
   skip_cran()
   expect_false(file.exists("_targets.yaml"))
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-tar_make.R b/tests/testthat/test-tar_make.R
index f0ae40b5..63bd72e6 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-tar_make.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-tar_make.R
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ tar_test("tar_make() works", {
 tar_test("tar_make() works with crew", {
   skip_on_os("windows")
   skip_on_os("solaris")
-  skip_if_not_installed("crew", minimum_version = "0.6.0")
+  skip_if_not_installed("crew", minimum_version = "0.6.0.9004")
   skip_if_not_installed("R.utils")
   should_skip <- identical(tolower(Sys.info()[["sysname"]]), "windows") &&
     isTRUE(as.logical(Sys.getenv("CI")))