diff --git a/fs/inode/fs_files.c b/fs/inode/fs_files.c
index ba310176f4..7d4eaf77d5 100644
--- a/fs/inode/fs_files.c
+++ b/fs/inode/fs_files.c
@@ -71,6 +71,11 @@ static int files_extend(FAR struct filelist *list, size_t row)
       return 0;
     }
 
+  if (row * CONFIG_NFILE_DESCRIPTORS_PER_BLOCK > _POSIX_OPEN_MAX)
+    {
+      return -EMFILE;
+    }
+
   tmp = kmm_realloc(list->fl_files, sizeof(FAR struct file *) * row);
   DEBUGASSERT(tmp);
   if (tmp == NULL)