diff --git a/include/exiv2/bmffimage.hpp b/include/exiv2/bmffimage.hpp
index b634953925..786f57201b 100644
--- a/include/exiv2/bmffimage.hpp
+++ b/include/exiv2/bmffimage.hpp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class EXIV2API BmffImage : public Image {
     @param create Specifies if an existing image should be read (false)
         or if a new file should be created (true).
    */
-  BmffImage(BasicIo::UniquePtr io, bool create);
+  BmffImage(BasicIo::UniquePtr io, bool create, size_t max_box_depth = 1000);
   //@}
 
   //@{
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ class EXIV2API BmffImage : public Image {
   uint16_t xmpID_{0};
   std::map<uint32_t, Iloc> ilocs_;
   bool bReadMetadata_{false};
+  const size_t max_box_depth_;
   //@}
 
   /*!
diff --git a/src/bmffimage.cpp b/src/bmffimage.cpp
index 063861896a..ac4ddd30db 100644
--- a/src/bmffimage.cpp
+++ b/src/bmffimage.cpp
@@ -86,8 +86,8 @@ std::string Iloc::toString() const {
   return Internal::stringFormat("ID = %u from,length = %u,%u", ID_, start_, length_);
 }
 
-BmffImage::BmffImage(BasicIo::UniquePtr io, bool /* create */) :
-    Image(ImageType::bmff, mdExif | mdIptc | mdXmp, std::move(io)) {
+BmffImage::BmffImage(BasicIo::UniquePtr io, bool /* create */, size_t max_box_depth) :
+    Image(ImageType::bmff, mdExif | mdIptc | mdXmp, std::move(io)), max_box_depth_(max_box_depth) {
 }  // BmffImage::BmffImage
 
 std::string BmffImage::toAscii(uint32_t n) {
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ uint64_t BmffImage::boxHandler(std::ostream& out /* = std::cout*/, Exiv2::PrintS
   // never visit a box twice!
   if (depth == 0)
     visits_.clear();
-  if (visits_.find(address) != visits_.end() || visits_.size() > visits_max_) {
+  if (visits_.find(address) != visits_.end() || visits_.size() > visits_max_ || depth >= max_box_depth_) {
     throw Error(ErrorCode::kerCorruptedMetadata);
   }
   visits_.insert(address);