diff --git a/conf/e2/config.xml b/conf/e2/config.xml
index 170621b48..980671bcf 100644
--- a/conf/e2/config.xml
+++ b/conf/e2/config.xml
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@
     <param name="hunger.long" value="1"/>
     <param name="init_spells" value="0"/>
     <param name="rules.reserve.twophase" value="1"/>
+    <param name="rules.give.max_men" value="10000"/>
     <param name="rules.check_overload" value="0"/>
     <param name="rules.limit.faction" value="2500"/>
     <param name="rules.maxskills.magic" value="5"/>
diff --git a/src/give.c b/src/give.c
index 7b9d2a3fb..22f05f34c 100644
--- a/src/give.c
+++ b/src/give.c
@@ -48,10 +48,13 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
 /* Wieviel Fremde eine Partei pro Woche aufnehmen kangiven */
-#define MAXNEWBIES								5
 #define RESERVE_DONATIONS       /* shall we reserve objects given to us by other factions? */
 #define RESERVE_GIVE            /* reserve anything that's given from one unit to another? */
 
+static int max_transfers() {
+    return get_param_int(global.parameters, "rules.give.max_men", 5);
+}
+
 static int GiveRestriction(void)
 {
     static int value = -1;
@@ -300,7 +303,7 @@ message * give_men(int n, unit * u, unit * u2, struct order *ord)
             error = 96;
         }
         else if (u->faction != u2->faction) {
-            if (u2->faction->newbies + n > MAXNEWBIES) {
+            if (u2->faction->newbies + n > max_transfers()) {
                 error = 129;
             }
             else if (u_race(u) != u2->faction->race) {
@@ -473,7 +476,7 @@ void give_unit(unit * u, unit * u2, order * ord)
         cmistake(u, ord, 105, MSG_COMMERCE);
         return;
     }
-    if (u2->faction->newbies + n > MAXNEWBIES) {
+    if (u2->faction->newbies + n > max_transfers()) {
         cmistake(u, ord, 129, MSG_COMMERCE);
         return;
     }
diff --git a/src/give.test.c b/src/give.test.c
index 5437dfa5b..f1b13011d 100644
--- a/src/give.test.c
+++ b/src/give.test.c
@@ -72,6 +72,36 @@ static void test_give_men(CuTest * tc) {
     test_cleanup();
 }
 
+static void test_give_men_limit(CuTest * tc) {
+    struct give env;
+    message *msg;
+    test_cleanup();
+    env.f2 = test_create_faction(0);
+    env.f1 = test_create_faction(0);
+    setup_give(&env);
+    set_param(&global.parameters, "rules.give.max_men", "1");
+
+    /* below the limit, give men, increase newbies counter */
+    usetcontact(env.dst, env.src);
+    msg = give_men(1, env.src, env.dst, NULL);
+    CuAssertStrEquals(tc, "give_person", (const char *)msg->parameters[0].v);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 2, env.dst->number);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 0, env.src->number);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 1, env.f2->newbies);
+    msg_release(msg);
+
+    /* beyond the limit, do nothing */
+    usetcontact(env.src, env.dst);
+    msg = give_men(2, env.dst, env.src, NULL);
+    CuAssertStrEquals(tc, "error129", (const char *)msg->parameters[3].v);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 2, env.dst->number);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 0, env.src->number);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 0, env.f1->newbies);
+    msg_release(msg);
+
+    test_cleanup();
+}
+
 static void test_give_men_in_ocean(CuTest * tc) {
     struct give env;
     message * msg;
@@ -247,6 +277,7 @@ CuSuite *get_give_suite(void)
     CuSuite *suite = CuSuiteNew();
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_give);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_give_men);
+    SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_give_men_limit);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_give_men_in_ocean);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_give_men_none);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_give_men_too_many);