diff --git a/src/cmd/gc/fmt.c b/src/cmd/gc/fmt.c
index f3be53c8fb..3013d0d329 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gc/fmt.c
+++ b/src/cmd/gc/fmt.c
@@ -1450,7 +1450,7 @@ Tconv(Fmt *fp)
 	if(t == T)
 		return fmtstrcpy(fp, "<T>");
 
-	if(t->trecur > 4)
+	if(t->trecur > 4 || fp->nfmt > 1000)
 		return fmtstrcpy(fp, "<...>");
 
 	t->trecur++;