diff --git a/hooks/validate.sh b/hooks/validate.sh
index 94ba350..454d1ab 100755
--- a/hooks/validate.sh
+++ b/hooks/validate.sh
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ if [[ ! -d "$DIR" ]]; then DIR="$PWD"; fi
 . "$DIR/timestamping"
 
 declare -i MINVERSION=$TIMESTAMPING_VERSION
+declare -i MAX_COMMITS_TO_CHECK=0
 declare -A PROCESSED_COMMIT
 
 while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
@@ -62,6 +63,16 @@ while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
       shift # past argument
       shift # past value
       ;;
+    -max|--maxcommits)
+      INTEGER_REGEX='^[0-9]+$'
+      if ! [[ "$2" =~ $INTEGER_REGEX ]]; then
+        echo_error "$KEY: expected positive integer"
+        exit 1
+      fi
+      MAX_COMMITS_TO_CHECK="$2"
+      shift # past argument
+      shift # past value
+      ;;
     -v|--verbose)
       OUT_STREAM=/dev/stdout
       shift # past argument
@@ -307,14 +318,19 @@ validate_commit_and_parents() {
   if ! validate_commit "$COMMIT_HASH"; then
     ALL_PASSED=false
   fi
-  local PARENTS=$(git cat-file -p "$COMMIT_HASH" | awk '/^$/{exit} /parent/ {print}' | sed 's/parent //')
-  #iterate over all parents of commit
-  if [ ! -z "$PARENTS" ]; then
-    while read PARENT_HASH; do
-      if ! validate_commit_and_parents "$PARENT_HASH"; then
-        ALL_PASSED=false
-      fi
-    done <<< $(printf "%s" "$PARENTS")
+  # If MAX_COMMITS_TO_CHECK is zero (or a negative number) then that is understood as "infinity".
+  # So perform the next commit check if we have not reached the limit, or if the limit is "infinity".
+  NUM_COMMITS_CHECKED=${#PROCESSED_COMMIT[@]}
+  if [[ ${NUM_COMMITS_CHECKED} -lt ${MAX_COMMITS_TO_CHECK} ]] || [[ ${MAX_COMMITS_TO_CHECK} -lt 1 ]]; then
+    local PARENTS=$(git cat-file -p "$COMMIT_HASH" | awk '/^$/{exit} /parent/ {print}' | sed 's/parent //')
+    #iterate over all parents of commit
+    if [ ! -z "$PARENTS" ]; then
+      while read PARENT_HASH; do
+        if ! validate_commit_and_parents "$PARENT_HASH"; then
+          ALL_PASSED=false
+        fi
+      done <<< $(printf "%s" "$PARENTS")
+    fi
   fi
   if [ "$ALL_PASSED" = true ]; then
     return 0