diff --git a/graph.cpp b/graph.cpp
index f8b5c902..7a730a7f 100644
--- a/graph.cpp
+++ b/graph.cpp
@@ -3590,13 +3590,17 @@ bool celldrawer::cell_clipped() {
 
 EX ld precise_width = .5;
 
+int grid_depth = 0;
+
 EX void gridline(const transmatrix& V1, const hyperpoint h1, const transmatrix& V2, const hyperpoint h2, color_t col, int prec) {
   ld d = hdist(V1*h1, V2*h2);
-  while(d > precise_width && d < 100) { 
+  while(d > precise_width && d < 100 && grid_depth < 10) { 
     if(!eqmatrix(V1, V2, 1e-6)) { gridline(V1, h1, V1, inverse(V1) * V2 * h2, col, prec); return; }
     hyperpoint h = midz(h1, h2); 
+    grid_depth++;
     gridline(V1, h1, V1, h, col, prec); 
     gridline(V1, h, V1, h2, col, prec); 
+    grid_depth--;
     return;
     }
 #if MAXMDIM >= 4