diff --git a/migrations/versions/0402_total_message_limit_default.py b/migrations/versions/0402_total_message_limit_default.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..786e60362
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/versions/0402_total_message_limit_default.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+"""
+
+Revision ID: 0402_total_message_limit_default
+Revises: 0401_add_e2e_test_user
+Create Date: 2023-09-18 10:04:58.957374
+
+"""
+from alembic import op
+from flask import current_app
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+
+revision = '0402_total_message_limit_default'
+down_revision = '0401_add_e2e_test_user'
+
+
+def upgrade():
+    # Set a default value for the total_message_limit column in the
+    # services table to match the current TOTAL_MESSAGE_LIMIT app
+    # config.
+    op.execute(
+        "UPDATE services SET total_message_limit = {total_message_limit} WHERE total_message_limit IS NULL".format(
+            total_message_limit=current_app.config["TOTAL_MESSAGE_LIMIT"]
+        )
+    )
+
+
+def downgrade():
+    # There is no downgrade from this migration as it would cause a bug
+    # in the app; if it needs to be removed, then you have to remove the
+    # column added in migration 0400.
+    pass