diff --git a/server/default_config.py b/server/default_config.py
index bd5e0ba..8d923d6 100644
--- a/server/default_config.py
+++ b/server/default_config.py
@@ -6,3 +6,4 @@ DB_URI = 'sqlite:///techrec.db'
 AUDIO_OUTPUT = 'output/'
 AUDIO_INPUT = 'rec/'
 FORGE_TIMEOUT = 20
+FORGE_MAX_DURATION = 3600*5
diff --git a/server/server.py b/server/server.py
index 06563b5..6987a37 100644
--- a/server/server.py
+++ b/server/server.py
@@ -143,6 +143,12 @@ class RecAPI(Bottle):
                     rec.filename,
                     'rec': rec
                     }
+        if get_config()['FORGE_MAX_DURATION'] > 0 and \
+                (rec.endtime - rec.starttime).total_seconds() > \
+                get_config()['FORGE_MAX_DURATION']:
+                    return {'status': 'error',
+                            'message': 'The requested recording is too long'
+                            }
         rec.filename = 'ror-%s-%s.mp3' % \
                        (rec.starttime.strftime('%y%m%d_%H%M'),
                         filter(lambda c: c.isalpha(), rec.name))