diff --git a/fs/file.c b/fs/file.c
index 0f705c7cfefe..7b3887e054d0 100644
--- a/fs/file.c
+++ b/fs/file.c
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ struct fdtable_defer {
 };
 
 int sysctl_nr_open __read_mostly = 1024*1024;
+int sysctl_nr_open_min = BITS_PER_LONG;
+int sysctl_nr_open_max = 1024 * 1024; /* raised later */
 
 /*
  * We use this list to defer free fdtables that have vmalloced
@@ -405,6 +407,8 @@ void __init files_defer_init(void)
 	int i;
 	for_each_possible_cpu(i)
 		fdtable_defer_list_init(i);
+	sysctl_nr_open_max = min((size_t)INT_MAX, ~(size_t)0/sizeof(void *)) &
+			     -BITS_PER_LONG;
 }
 
 struct files_struct init_files = {
diff --git a/kernel/sysctl.c b/kernel/sysctl.c
index d7ffdc59816a..29116652dca8 100644
--- a/kernel/sysctl.c
+++ b/kernel/sysctl.c
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ extern int compat_log;
 extern int maps_protect;
 extern int sysctl_stat_interval;
 extern int latencytop_enabled;
+extern int sysctl_nr_open_min, sysctl_nr_open_max;
 
 /* Constants used for minimum and  maximum */
 #if defined(CONFIG_DETECT_SOFTLOCKUP) || defined(CONFIG_HIGHMEM)
@@ -1190,7 +1191,9 @@ static struct ctl_table fs_table[] = {
 		.data		= &sysctl_nr_open,
 		.maxlen		= sizeof(int),
 		.mode		= 0644,
-		.proc_handler	= &proc_dointvec,
+		.proc_handler	= &proc_dointvec_minmax,
+		.extra1		= &sysctl_nr_open_min,
+		.extra2		= &sysctl_nr_open_max,
 	},
 	{
 		.ctl_name	= FS_DENTRY,