diff --git a/image.go b/image.go
index c607971820..77153bb136 100644
--- a/image.go
+++ b/image.go
@@ -211,6 +211,25 @@ func (img *Image) getParentsSize(size int64) int64 {
 	return parentImage.getParentsSize(size)
 }
 
+// Depth returns the number of parents for a
+// current image
+func (img *Image) Depth() (int, error) {
+	var (
+		count  = 0
+		parent = img
+		err    error
+	)
+
+	for parent != nil {
+		count++
+		parent, err = parent.GetParent()
+		if err != nil {
+			return -1, err
+		}
+	}
+	return count, nil
+}
+
 // Build an Image object from raw json data
 func NewImgJSON(src []byte) (*Image, error) {
 	ret := &Image{}
diff --git a/runtime.go b/runtime.go
index e1ce7551ea..80e955d4a3 100644
--- a/runtime.go
+++ b/runtime.go
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ import (
 	"time"
 )
 
+// Set the max depth to the aufs restriction
+const MaxImageDepth = 42
+
 var defaultDns = []string{"8.8.8.8", "8.8.4.4"}
 
 type Capabilities struct {
@@ -367,6 +370,17 @@ func (runtime *Runtime) Create(config *Config, name string) (*Container, []strin
 		return nil, nil, err
 	}
 
+	// We add 2 layers to the depth because the container's rw and
+	// init layer add to the restriction
+	depth, err := img.Depth()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+
+	if depth+2 >= MaxImageDepth {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("Cannot create container with more than %d parents", MaxImageDepth)
+	}
+
 	checkDeprecatedExpose := func(config *Config) bool {
 		if config != nil {
 			if config.PortSpecs != nil {