diff --git a/libbb/loop.c b/libbb/loop.c
index 8c3ad2ce0..19bbf3674 100644
--- a/libbb/loop.c
+++ b/libbb/loop.c
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ extern char *find_unused_loop_device(void)
 	struct stat statbuf;
 	struct loop_info loopinfo;
 
-	for (i = 0; i <= 7; i++) {
+	for (i = 0; i <= CONFIG_FEATURE_MOUNT_LOOP_MAX; i++) {
 		sprintf(dev, LOOP_FORMAT, i);
 		if (stat(dev, &statbuf) == 0 && S_ISBLK(statbuf.st_mode)) {
 			if ((fd = open(dev, O_RDONLY)) >= 0) {
diff --git a/util-linux/Config.in b/util-linux/Config.in
index b54165409..7007915ba 100644
--- a/util-linux/Config.in
+++ b/util-linux/Config.in
@@ -349,6 +349,14 @@ config CONFIG_FEATURE_MOUNT_LOOP
 	  if you need to do something advanced, such as specify an offset or cryptographic
 	  options to the loopback device.
 
+config CONFIG_FEATURE_MOUNT_LOOP_MAX
+	int "    max number of loop devices"
+	default 7
+	depends on CONFIG_FEATURE_MOUNT_LOOP
+	help
+	  This option sets the highest numbered loop device to be used
+	  automatically by the '-o loop' feature of mount.
+
 config CONFIG_FEATURE_MTAB_SUPPORT
 	bool "  Support for a /etc/mtab file (instead of symlink to /proc/mounts)"
 	default n