diff -Nrup a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
--- a/src/main.c	2016-05-31 03:17:26.000000000 -0400
+++ b/src/main.c	2016-09-22 16:18:52.283889265 -0400
@@ -2051,6 +2051,21 @@ main (int argc, char **argv, char **envp
     }
 #endif
 
+#ifdef PIPE_BUF
+  if (job_slots > PIPE_BUF)
+#elif defined _POSIX_PIPE_BUF
+  if (job_slots > _POSIX_PIPE_BUF)
+#else
+  if (job_slots > 512)
+#endif
+    {
+      O (error, NILF,
+            _("More parallel jobs (-jN) than this platform can handle requested."));
+      O (error, NILF, _("Resetting to single job (-j1) mode."));
+      job_slots = 1;
+    }
+
+
   /* If we have >1 slot at this point, then we're a top-level make.
      Set up the jobserver.
 
