diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ca20e28..5642e3b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -151,6 +151,23 @@ Elm.Main.init({node: document.getElementById("main")});
 Elm.Path.To.OtherModule.init({node: document.getElementById("other")});
 ```
 
+#### maxInstances (default `undefined`)
+
+You can add `maxInstances=8` to the loader:
+
+```js
+  ...
+  use: {
+    loader: 'elm-webpack-loader',
+    options: {
+      maxInstances: 8
+    }
+  }
+  ...
+```
+
+Set a limit to the number of maxInstances of elm that can spawned.
+
 ##### Hot module reloading
 
 Hot module reloading is supported by installing [elm-hot-webpack-loader](https://github.com/klazuka/elm-hot-webpack-loader)
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 21bc8dd..b21debf 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ var temp = require("temp").track();
 var loaderUtils = require("loader-utils");
 var elmCompiler = require("node-elm-compiler");
 
+var runningInstances = 0;
+
 var getFiles = function(options) {
     var files = options && options.files;
 
@@ -95,6 +97,14 @@ module.exports = function() {
     var files = getFiles.call(this, options);
     var resourcePath = this.resourcePath;
 
+    var maxInstances = options.maxInstances;
+
+    if (typeof maxInstances === "undefined"){
+      maxInstances = null;
+    } else {
+      delete options.maxInstances;
+    }
+
     var promises = [];
 
     // we only need to track deps if we are in watch mode
@@ -124,30 +134,43 @@ module.exports = function() {
         promises.push(dependencies);
     }
 
-    var compilation = compile(files, options)
-        .then(function(v) { return { kind: "success", result: v }; })
-        .catch(function(v) { return { kind: "error", error: v }; });
-
-    promises.push(compilation);
-
-    Promise.all(promises)
-        .then(function(results) {
-            var output = results[results.length - 1]; // compilation output is always last
+    var intervalId;
+
+    var run = function() {
+      if (maxInstances !== null && runningInstances >= maxInstances) { return false };
+      runningInstances += 1;
+      clearInterval(intervalId);
+      
+      var compilation = compile(files, options)
+          .then(function(v) { runningInstances -= 1; return { kind: "success", result: v }; })
+          .catch(function(v) { runningInstances -= 1; return { kind: "error", error: v }; });
+
+      promises.push(compilation);
+
+      Promise.all(promises)
+          .then(function(results) {
+              var output = results[results.length - 1]; // compilation output is always last
+
+              if (output.kind === "success") {
+                  callback(null, output.result);
+              } else {
+                  if (typeof output.error === "string") {
+                      output.error = new Error(output.error);
+                  }
+
+                  output.error.message = "Compiler process exited with error " + output.error.message;
+                  output.error.stack = null;
+                  callback(output.error);
+              }
+          }).catch(function(err){
+              callback(err);
+          });
 
-            if (output.kind === "success") {
-                callback(null, output.result);
-            } else {
-                if (typeof output.error === "string") {
-                    output.error = new Error(output.error);
-                }
+    };
 
-                output.error.message = "Compiler process exited with error " + output.error.message;
-                output.error.stack = null;
-                callback(output.error);
-            }
-        }).catch(function(err){
-            callback(err);
-        });
+    if (run() === false) {
+      intervalId = setInterval(run, 200);
+    }
 }