diff --git a/src/org/joni/Config.java b/src/org/joni/Config.java
index ac9a71b..dbaa493 100644
--- a/src/org/joni/Config.java
+++ b/src/org/joni/Config.java
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 import java.io.PrintStream;
 
 public interface Config extends org.jcodings.Config {
+    final int REGEX_MAX_LENGTH = ConfigSupport.getInt("joni.regex_max_length", 10000);
     final int CHAR_TABLE_SIZE = ConfigSupport.getInt("joni.char_table_size", 256);
     final boolean USE_NO_INVALID_QUANTIFIER = ConfigSupport.getBoolean("joni.use_no_invalid_quantifier", true);
     final int SCANENV_MEMNODES_SIZE = ConfigSupport.getInt("joni.scanenv_memnodes_size", 8);
diff --git a/src/org/joni/Regex.java b/src/org/joni/Regex.java
index e7e6b69..5e98312 100644
--- a/src/org/joni/Regex.java
+++ b/src/org/joni/Regex.java
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 import org.joni.exception.ErrorMessages;
 import org.joni.exception.InternalException;
 import org.joni.exception.ValueException;
+import org.joni.Config;
 
 public final class Regex {
     int[] code;             /* compiled pattern */
@@ -150,6 +151,9 @@ public Regex(byte[]bytes, int p, int end, int option, Encoding enc, Syntax synta
 
     // onig_alloc_init
     public Regex(byte[]bytes, int p, int end, int option, int caseFoldFlag, Encoding enc, Syntax syntax, WarnCallback warnings) {
+        if ((end - p) > Config.REGEX_MAX_LENGTH) {
+            throw new ValueException(ErrorMessages.REGEX_TOO_LONG);
+        }
 
         if ((option & (Option.DONT_CAPTURE_GROUP | Option.CAPTURE_GROUP)) ==
             (Option.DONT_CAPTURE_GROUP | Option.CAPTURE_GROUP)) {
diff --git a/src/org/joni/exception/ErrorMessages.java b/src/org/joni/exception/ErrorMessages.java
index cb1f21f..432c158 100644
--- a/src/org/joni/exception/ErrorMessages.java
+++ b/src/org/joni/exception/ErrorMessages.java
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ public interface ErrorMessages extends org.jcodings.exception.ErrorMessages {
     final String INVALID_ARGUMENT = "invalid argument";
 
     /* syntax error */
+    final String REGEX_TOO_LONG = "regex length too long";
     final String END_PATTERN_AT_LEFT_BRACE = "end pattern at left brace";
     final String END_PATTERN_AT_LEFT_BRACKET = "end pattern at left bracket";
     final String EMPTY_CHAR_CLASS = "empty char-class";