diff --git a/grub-core/loader/multiboot_elfxx.c b/grub-core/loader/multiboot_elfxx.c
index a81a8d38b..1edad0594 100644
--- a/grub-core/loader/multiboot_elfxx.c
+++ b/grub-core/loader/multiboot_elfxx.c
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ CONCAT(grub_multiboot_load_elf, XX) (mbi_load_data_t *mld)
   grub_uint32_t load_offset = 0, load_size = 0;
   Elf_Shnum shnum;
   Elf_Word shstrndx, phnum;
+  grub_off_t phlimit;
   unsigned int i;
   void *source = NULL;
 
@@ -100,7 +101,8 @@ CONCAT(grub_multiboot_load_elf, XX) (mbi_load_data_t *mld)
     return err;
 
   /* FIXME: Should we support program headers at strange locations?  */
-  if (ehdr->e_phoff + phnum * ehdr->e_phentsize > MULTIBOOT_SEARCH)
+  phlimit = grub_min (MULTIBOOT_SEARCH, grub_file_size (mld->file));
+  if ((grub_off_t) ehdr->e_phoff + phnum * ehdr->e_phentsize > phlimit)
     return grub_error (GRUB_ERR_BAD_OS, "program header at a too high offset");
 
   phdr_base = (char *) mld->buffer + ehdr->e_phoff;