diff --git a/fs/btrfs/file.c b/fs/btrfs/file.c
index dafdfa059bf6..52305a885c3f 100644
--- a/fs/btrfs/file.c
+++ b/fs/btrfs/file.c
@@ -1167,6 +1167,8 @@ static noinline ssize_t __btrfs_buffered_write(struct file *file,
 	nrptrs = min((iov_iter_count(i) + PAGE_CACHE_SIZE - 1) /
 		     PAGE_CACHE_SIZE, PAGE_CACHE_SIZE /
 		     (sizeof(struct page *)));
+	nrptrs = min(nrptrs, current->nr_dirtied_pause - current->nr_dirtied);
+	nrptrs = max(nrptrs, 8);
 	pages = kmalloc(nrptrs * sizeof(struct page *), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!pages)
 		return -ENOMEM;