diff --git a/src/kmscon_conf.c b/src/kmscon_conf.c
index e49c8f8..182fdf0 100644
--- a/src/kmscon_conf.c
+++ b/src/kmscon_conf.c
@@ -120,6 +120,9 @@ static void print_help()
 		"\t    --grab-terminal-new <grab>  [<Ctrl><Alt>Return]\n"
 		"\t                                  Create new terminal session\n"
 		"\n"
+		"Session Options:\n"
+		"\t    --session-max <max>         [50] Maximum number of sessions\n"
+		"\n"
 		"Font Options:\n"
 		"\t    --font-engine <engine>  [pango]\n"
 		"\t                              Font engine\n"
@@ -298,6 +301,7 @@ struct conf_option options[] = {
 	CONF_OPTION_UINT(0, "font-size", NULL, &kmscon_conf.font_size, 12),
 	CONF_OPTION_STRING(0, "font-name", NULL, &kmscon_conf.font_name, "monospace"),
 	CONF_OPTION_UINT(0, "font-dpi", NULL, &kmscon_conf.font_ppi, 96),
+	CONF_OPTION_UINT(0, "session-max", NULL, &kmscon_conf.session_max, 50),
 	CONF_OPTION_STRING_LIST(0, "seats", aftercheck_seats, &kmscon_conf.seats, def_seats),
 };
 
diff --git a/src/kmscon_conf.h b/src/kmscon_conf.h
index 6abb1da..d0a4430 100644
--- a/src/kmscon_conf.h
+++ b/src/kmscon_conf.h
@@ -94,6 +94,9 @@ struct kmscon_conf_t {
 	char **seats;
 	bool all_seats;
 
+	/* sessions */
+	unsigned int session_max;
+
 	/* font engine */
 	char *font_engine;
 	/* font size */
diff --git a/src/kmscon_seat.c b/src/kmscon_seat.c
index 077acea..2178226 100644
--- a/src/kmscon_seat.c
+++ b/src/kmscon_seat.c
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ struct kmscon_seat {
 	struct uterm_vt *vt;
 	struct shl_dlist displays;
 
+	size_t session_count;
 	struct shl_dlist sessions;
 	struct kmscon_session *cur_sess;
 	struct kmscon_session *dummy;
@@ -560,6 +561,13 @@ int kmscon_seat_register_session(struct kmscon_seat *seat,
 	if (!seat || !out)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
+	if (kmscon_conf.session_max &&
+	    seat->session_count >= kmscon_conf.session_max) {
+		log_warning("maximum number of sessions reached (%d), dropping new session",
+			    kmscon_conf.session_max);
+		return -EOVERFLOW;
+	}
+
 	sess = malloc(sizeof(*sess));
 	if (!sess) {
 		log_error("cannot allocate memory for new session on seat %s",
@@ -576,6 +584,7 @@ int kmscon_seat_register_session(struct kmscon_seat *seat,
 	sess->data = data;
 
 	shl_dlist_link_tail(&seat->sessions, &sess->list);
+	++seat->session_count;
 	*out = sess;
 
 	shl_dlist_for_each(iter, &seat->displays) {
@@ -612,6 +621,7 @@ void kmscon_session_unregister(struct kmscon_session *sess)
 
 	session_deactivate(sess);
 	shl_dlist_unlink(&sess->list);
+	--sess->seat->session_count;
 	sess->seat = NULL;
 	session_call(sess, KMSCON_SESSION_UNREGISTER, NULL);
 }