diff --git a/optimize.c b/optimize.c
index 4afd063f..90e8c571 100644
--- a/optimize.c
+++ b/optimize.c
@@ -1888,7 +1888,7 @@ opt_root(struct block **b)
 static void
 opt_loop(opt_state_t *opt_state, struct icode *ic, int do_stmts)
 {
-
+	int loopCounter = 0;
 #ifdef BDEBUG
 	if (pcap_optimizer_debug > 1 || pcap_print_dot_graph) {
 		printf("opt_loop(root, %d) begin\n", do_stmts);
@@ -1909,6 +1909,10 @@ opt_loop(opt_state_t *opt_state, struct icode *ic, int do_stmts)
 			opt_dump(opt_state, ic);
 		}
 #endif
+		loopCounter++;
+		if (loopCounter > 1000) {
+			break;
+		}
 	} while (!opt_state->done);
 }