diff --git a/README b/README
index 0d85b36..408fe70 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ check_file	- check file owner/mode in addition to directory. default on
 kill		- kill the offending process and its parent when it gets denied
 		  execution from TPE, unless it's root. default off
 log		- whether to log denied execs to the ring buffer. default on
+log_max		- maximun parent processes in a single log entry. default 50
 log_floodburst	- number of log entries before logging is disabled. default 5
 log_floodtime	- seconds until re-enabling logging after floodburst. default 5
 paranoid	- denies execs for root of files not owned by root. default off
diff --git a/core.c b/core.c
index 28ecb12..8029142 100644
--- a/core.c
+++ b/core.c
@@ -62,16 +62,25 @@ void parent_task_walk(struct task_struct *task) {
 
 	struct task_struct *parent;
 	char filename[MAX_FILE_LEN];
+	int c = 0;
 
+	walk:
+	c++;
 	if (task && task->mm) {
 
+		if (tpe_log_max && c > tpe_log_max) {
+			printk("tpe log_max %d reached", tpe_log_max);
+			return;
+		}
+
 		parent = get_task_parent(task);
 
 		printk("%s (uid:%d)", exe_from_mm(task->mm, filename, MAX_FILE_LEN), get_task_uid(task));
 
 		if (parent && task->pid != 1) {
 			printk(", ");
-			parent_task_walk(parent);
+			task = parent;
+			goto walk;
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/module.h b/module.h
index 24589ad..583cc20 100644
--- a/module.h
+++ b/module.h
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ extern int tpe_check_file;
 extern int tpe_paranoid;
 extern int tpe_kill;
 extern int tpe_log;
+extern int tpe_log_max;
 extern int tpe_log_floodtime;
 extern int tpe_log_floodburst;
 extern int tpe_dmesg;
diff --git a/sysctl.c b/sysctl.c
index c96b417..cc29e01 100644
--- a/sysctl.c
+++ b/sysctl.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ int tpe_check_file = 1;
 int tpe_paranoid = 0;
 int tpe_kill = 0;
 int tpe_log = 1;
+int tpe_log_max = 50;
 int tpe_log_floodtime = LOG_FLOODTIME;
 int tpe_log_floodburst = LOG_FLOODBURST;
 int tpe_dmesg = 0;
@@ -117,6 +118,14 @@ static ctl_table tpe_table[] = {
 		.mode		= 0644,
 		.proc_handler	= &proc_dointvec,
 	},
+	{
+		.ctl_name	= CTL_UNNUMBERED,
+		.procname	= "log_max",
+		.data		= &tpe_log_max,
+		.maxlen		= sizeof(int),
+		.mode		= 0644,
+		.proc_handler	= &proc_dointvec,
+	},
 	{
 		.ctl_name	= CTL_UNNUMBERED,
 		.procname	= "log_floodtime",