diff --git a/image_classifier/image_classifier.py b/image_classifier/image_classifier.py
index 028138f..91d39b6 100755
--- a/image_classifier/image_classifier.py
+++ b/image_classifier/image_classifier.py
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ class CustomFormatter(logging.Formatter):
 class image_classifier:
 
     def __init__(self, debug_level, log_file, faces_directory, directory,
-                 no_move, people_folder, recursive, folder_date_format):
+                 no_move, people_folder, recursive, folder_date_format,
+                 limit):
         ''' Initial function called when object is created '''
         self.debug_level = debug_level
         if log_file is None:
@@ -72,12 +73,17 @@ class image_classifier:
         self.people_folder = people_folder
         self.recursive = recursive
         self.folder_date_format = folder_date_format
+        self.limit = limit
 
         if self.recursive:
             entries = self.recursive_scandir(directory)
         else:
             entries = list()
+            count = 0
             for entry in os.scandir(directory):
+                count += 1
+                if count > limit:
+                    break
                 entries.append(entry)
         self._log.debug(f"Processing {len(entries)} files...")
         for entry in entries:
@@ -415,13 +421,18 @@ for files in the provided --directory')
               help='Format for the folder with the file date according to \
 https://docs.python.org/3/library/datetime.html#strftime-strptime-behavior'
               )
+@click.option(
+    '--limit', '-l',
+    default=1000,
+    help='Limit the number of files to process'
+)
 @click_config_file.configuration_option()
 def __main__(debug_level, log_file, faces_directory, directory, no_move,
-             people_folder, recursive, folder_date_format):
+             people_folder, recursive, folder_date_format, limit):
     return image_classifier(
         debug_level, log_file, faces_directory, directory,
         no_move, people_folder, recursive,
-        folder_date_format
+        folder_date_format, limit
     )