diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.cpp
index a8f146024..48b058d9e 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.cpp
@@ -260,6 +260,11 @@ namespace MWWorld
         mMaxCacheSize = num;
     }
 
+    unsigned int CellPreloader::getMaxCacheSize() const
+    {
+        return mMaxCacheSize;
+    }
+
     void CellPreloader::setWorkQueue(osg::ref_ptr<SceneUtil::WorkQueue> workQueue)
     {
         mWorkQueue = workQueue;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.hpp
index f78e66e75..e236a3783 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellpreloader.hpp
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ namespace MWWorld
         /// The maximum number of preloaded cells.
         void setMaxCacheSize(unsigned int num);
 
+        unsigned int getMaxCacheSize() const;
+
         void setWorkQueue(osg::ref_ptr<SceneUtil::WorkQueue> workQueue);
 
     private:
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp
index 392374753..33ea9b6a8 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp
@@ -737,11 +737,14 @@ namespace MWWorld
         {
             int x = cell->getCell()->getGridX();
             int y = cell->getCell()->getGridY();
+            unsigned int numpreloaded = 0;
             for (int dx = -mHalfGridSize; dx <= mHalfGridSize; ++dx)
             {
                 for (int dy = -mHalfGridSize; dy <= mHalfGridSize; ++dy)
                 {
                     mPreloader->preload(MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getExterior(x+dx, y+dy), mRendering.getReferenceTime());
+                    if (++numpreloaded >= mPreloader->getMaxCacheSize())
+                        break;
                 }
             }
         }