diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ff0e6bdb2cf..72092f67013 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ Warning: These experimental features are subject to change in future releases.
 
 * `workflows/multiomics/process_samples`: Add optional `--skip_scrublet_doublet_detection` flag to bypass Scrublet doublet detection. Scrublet doublet detection runs by default and can now be optionally disabled (PR #1049).
 
+* Nextflow runner: use `resourceLimits` directive in the labels config to set a global limit on the memory (PR #1060).
+
 ## BUG FIXES
 
 * `cellranger_multi`: Fix error when running Cell Ranger without any computational resources specified (PR #1056)
diff --git a/src/workflows/utils/labels.config b/src/workflows/utils/labels.config
index 8aca1a02968..94570ec62a3 100644
--- a/src/workflows/utils/labels.config
+++ b/src/workflows/utils/labels.config
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ process {
   // Retry for exit codes that have something to do with memory issues
   errorStrategy = { task.exitStatus in 137..140 ? 'retry' : 'terminate' }
   maxRetries = 3
-  maxMemory = null
+
+  // The memory a task is assinged increases with each attempt
+  // uncomment the line below and adjust the value to set a global upper limit on the memory.
+  // resourceLimits = [ memory: 240.Gb ] 
 
   // CPU resources
   withLabel: singlecpu { cpus = 1 }
@@ -15,10 +18,10 @@ process {
   withLabel: highcpu { cpus = 20 }
   
   // Memory resources
-  withLabel: lowmem { memory = { get_memory( 4.GB * task.attempt ) } }
-  withLabel: midmem { memory = { get_memory( 25.GB * task.attempt ) } }
-  withLabel: highmem { memory = { get_memory( 50.GB * task.attempt ) } }
-  withLabel: veryhighmem { memory = { get_memory( 75.GB * task.attempt ) } }
+  withLabel: lowmem { memory = { task?.resourceLimits?.memory && task?.maxRetries && task.attempt >= task.maxRetries ? task.resourceLimits.memory : 4.GB * task.attempt } }
+  withLabel: midmem { memory = { task?.resourceLimits?.memory && task?.maxRetries && task.attempt >= task.maxRetries ? task.resourceLimits.memory : 25.GB * task.attempt } }
+  withLabel: highmem { memory = { task?.resourceLimits?.memory && task?.maxRetries && task.attempt >= task.maxRetries ? task.resourceLimits.memory : 50.GB * task.attempt } }
+  withLabel: veryhighmem { memory = { task?.resourceLimits?.memory && task?.maxRetries && task.attempt >= task.maxRetries ? task.resourceLimits.memory : 75.GB * task.attempt } }
 
   // Disk space
   withLabel: lowdisk {
@@ -43,24 +46,3 @@ process {
   // withLabel: highdisk { disk = { 200.GB * task.attempt } }
   // withLabel: veryhighdisk { disk = { 500.GB * task.attempt } }
 }
-
-def get_memory(to_compare) {
-  if (!process.containsKey("maxMemory") || !process.maxMemory) {
-    return to_compare
-  }
-
-  try {
-    if (process.containsKey("maxRetries") && process.maxRetries && task.attempt == (process.maxRetries as int)) {
-      return process.maxMemory
-    }
-    else if (to_compare.compareTo(process.maxMemory as nextflow.util.MemoryUnit) == 1) {
-      return max_memory as nextflow.util.MemoryUnit
-    }
-    else {
-      return to_compare
-    }  
-  } catch (all) {
-        println "Error processing memory resources. Please check that process.maxMemory '${process.maxMemory}' and process.maxRetries '${process.maxRetries}' are valid!"
-        System.exit(1)
-  }
-}