diff --git a/autoload/airline/extensions/whitespace.vim b/autoload/airline/extensions/whitespace.vim
index c8910af6..002fba1d 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/extensions/whitespace.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/extensions/whitespace.vim
@@ -16,10 +16,12 @@ let s:default_checks = ['indent', 'trailing']
 let s:trailing_format = get(g:, 'airline#extensions#whitespace#trailing_format', 'trailing[%s]')
 let s:mixed_indent_format = get(g:, 'airline#extensions#whitespace#mixed_indent_format', 'mixed-indent[%s]')
 
+let s:max_lines = get(g:, 'airline#extensions#whitespace#max_lines', 20000)
+
 let s:enabled = 1
 
 function! airline#extensions#whitespace#check()
-  if &readonly || !&modifiable || !s:enabled
+  if &readonly || !&modifiable || !s:enabled || line('$') > s:max_lines
     return ''
   endif
 
diff --git a/doc/airline.txt b/doc/airline.txt
index f841a64e..e8e83cad 100644
--- a/doc/airline.txt
+++ b/doc/airline.txt
@@ -355,6 +355,9 @@ eclim <https://eclim.org>
 * configure which whitespace checks to enable. >
   let g:airline#extensions#whitespace#checks = [ 'indent', 'trailing' ]
 <
+* configure the maximum number of lines where whitespace checking is enabled. >
+  let g:airline#extensions#whitespace#max_lines = 20000
+<
 * configure whether a message should be displayed. >
   let g:airline#extensions#whitespace#show_message = 1
 <