diff --git a/bochs/config.h.in b/bochs/config.h.in
index c59767e8a..8f809c12a 100644
--- a/bochs/config.h.in
+++ b/bochs/config.h.in
@@ -620,4 +620,10 @@ typedef unsigned int Boolean;
 #define BX_CDROM_NAME "CD-ROM"
 #endif
 
+// This is handy for certain performance testing purposes, but otherwise
+// totally useless.  If you define BX_SCHEDULED_DIE_TIME then it enables code
+// in bx_pit_c::periodic that will cause Bochs to exit() after a certain number
+// of instructions.
+//#define BX_SCHEDULED_DIE_TIME 1162230000   // end of redhat6.0 boot
+
 #endif  // _BX_CONFIG_H
diff --git a/bochs/iodev/pit_wrap.cc b/bochs/iodev/pit_wrap.cc
index 5af2dec0e..2846f877e 100644
--- a/bochs/iodev/pit_wrap.cc
+++ b/bochs/iodev/pit_wrap.cc
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-// $Id: pit_wrap.cc,v 1.20 2002-08-27 19:54:46 bdenney Exp $
+// $Id: pit_wrap.cc,v 1.21 2002-09-01 15:38:29 bdenney Exp $
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //
 //  Copyright (C) 2002  MandrakeSoft S.A.
@@ -404,6 +404,13 @@ bx_pit_c::periodic( Bit32u   usec_delta )
   Boolean want_interrupt = 0;
   Bit32u ticks_delta = 0;
 
+#ifdef BX_SCHEDULED_DIE_TIME
+  if (bx_pc_system.time_ticks() > BX_SCHEDULED_DIE_TIME) {
+    BX_ERROR (("ticks exceeded scheduled die time, quitting"));
+    BX_EXIT (2);
+  }
+#endif
+
 #if BX_USE_REALTIME_PIT
   ticks_delta=(Bit32u)(USEC_TO_TICKS(usec_delta));
   if((BX_PIT_THIS s.total_ticks + ticks_delta) < (BX_PIT_THIS s.max_ticks)) {