diff --git a/hw/usb/hcd-ehci.c b/hw/usb/hcd-ehci.c
index 159f58d5a080f7f693db3ccaeea5a5d2330591dd..d5c0e1c60dfd3b15043f324a0a51ee29b1e6f7fc 100644
--- a/hw/usb/hcd-ehci.c
+++ b/hw/usb/hcd-ehci.c
@@ -2011,6 +2011,7 @@ static int ehci_state_writeback(EHCIQueue *q)
 static void ehci_advance_state(EHCIState *ehci, int async)
 {
     EHCIQueue *q = NULL;
+    int itd_count = 0;
     int again;
 
     do {
@@ -2035,10 +2036,12 @@ static void ehci_advance_state(EHCIState *ehci, int async)
 
         case EST_FETCHITD:
             again = ehci_state_fetchitd(ehci, async);
+            itd_count++;
             break;
 
         case EST_FETCHSITD:
             again = ehci_state_fetchsitd(ehci, async);
+            itd_count++;
             break;
 
         case EST_ADVANCEQUEUE:
@@ -2087,7 +2090,8 @@ static void ehci_advance_state(EHCIState *ehci, int async)
             break;
         }
 
-        if (again < 0) {
+        if (again < 0 || itd_count > 16) {
+            /* TODO: notify guest (raise HSE irq?) */
             fprintf(stderr, "processing error - resetting ehci HC\n");
             ehci_reset(ehci);
             again = 0;