diff --git a/drivers/net/rckemac.c b/drivers/net/rckemac.c
index 0ba62c15..e06b7981 100644
--- a/drivers/net/rckemac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/rckemac.c
@@ -232,6 +232,7 @@ static err_t rckemacif_output(struct netif* netif, struct pbuf* p)
 	int rest;
 	int packets;
 	int sum = 0;
+	int chance = 20;
 
 	/* check for over/underflow */
 	if (BUILTIN_EXPECT((p->tot_len < 20 /* IP header size */) || (p->tot_len > 1536), 0)) {
@@ -257,6 +258,9 @@ again:
 
 	if (sum < packets) {
 		LWIP_DEBUGF(NETIF_DEBUG, ("Warning: not enough space available, retrying...\n"));
+		chance--;
+		if (chance < 0)
+			return ERR_MEM;
 		goto again;
 	}
 #endif