diff --git a/include/rssfuncs.php b/include/rssfuncs.php
index dcf86c1af..4efc843c4 100644
--- a/include/rssfuncs.php
+++ b/include/rssfuncs.php
@@ -588,11 +588,18 @@
 
 			_debug("processing articles...", $debug_enabled);
 
+			$tstart = time();
+
 			foreach ($items as $item) {
 				if ($_REQUEST['xdebug'] == 3) {
 					print_r($item);
 				}
 
+				if (ini_get("max_execution_time") > 0 && time() - $tstart >= ini_get("max_execution_time") * 0.7) {
+					_debug("looks like there's too many articles to process at once, breaking out", $debug_enabled);
+					break;
+				}
+
 				$entry_guid = $item->get_id();
 				if (!$entry_guid) $entry_guid = $item->get_link();
 				if (!$entry_guid) $entry_guid = make_guid_from_title($item->get_title());