diff --git a/src/smt/params/smt_params_helper.pyg b/src/smt/params/smt_params_helper.pyg
index 178b2117f..a3f163ed4 100644
--- a/src/smt/params/smt_params_helper.pyg
+++ b/src/smt/params/smt_params_helper.pyg
@@ -63,5 +63,6 @@ def_module_params(module_name='smt',
                           ('dack.threshold', UINT, 10, ' number of times the congruence rule must be used before Leibniz\'s axiom is expanded'),
                           ('core.validate', BOOL, False, 'validate unsat core produced by SMT context'),
                           ('core.minimize', BOOL, False, 'minimize unsat core produced by SMT context'),
-                          ('core.extend_patterns', BOOL, False, 'extend unsat core with literals that trigger (potential) quantifier instances')
+                          ('core.extend_patterns', BOOL, False, 'extend unsat core with literals that trigger (potential) quantifier instances'),
+                          ('core.extend_patterns.max_distance', UINT, UINT_MAX, 'limits the distance of a pattern-extended unsat core')
                           ))
diff --git a/src/smt/smt_solver.cpp b/src/smt/smt_solver.cpp
index f80ff09f4..ab6be5d91 100644
--- a/src/smt/smt_solver.cpp
+++ b/src/smt/smt_solver.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ namespace smt {
         symbol               m_logic;
         bool                 m_minimizing_core;
         bool                 m_core_extend_patterns;
+        unsigned             m_core_extend_patterns_max_distance;
         obj_map<expr, expr*> m_name2assertion;
 
     public:
@@ -46,12 +47,14 @@ namespace smt {
             m_params(p),
             m_context(m, m_smt_params),
             m_minimizing_core(false),
-            m_core_extend_patterns(false) {
+            m_core_extend_patterns(false),
+            m_core_extend_patterns_max_distance(UINT_MAX) {
             m_logic = l;
             if (m_logic != symbol::null)
                 m_context.set_logic(m_logic);
             smt_params_helper smth(p);
             m_core_extend_patterns = smth.core_extend_patterns();
+            m_core_extend_patterns_max_distance = smth.core_extend_patterns_max_distance();
         }
 
         virtual solver * translate(ast_manager & m, params_ref const & p) {
@@ -283,7 +286,7 @@ namespace smt {
             func_decl_set pattern_fds;
             vector<func_decl_set> assrtn_fds;
 
-            do {
+            for (unsigned d = 0; d < m_core_extend_patterns_max_distance; d++) {
                 new_core_literals.reset();
 
                 unsigned sz = core.size();
@@ -308,8 +311,10 @@ namespace smt {
                 }
 
                 core.append(new_core_literals.size(), new_core_literals.c_ptr());
+
+                if (new_core_literals.empty())
+                    break;
             }
-            while (!new_core_literals.empty());
         }
     };
 };