diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 928fe69..3cee6e4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -48,6 +48,11 @@ They can be set in user preferences (`ctrl+,` or `cmd+,`) or workspace settings
 // Extending this may lead to performance issues
 "relativePath.searchCountLimit": 1000,
 
+// Max number of files scanned and cached from the workspace. Bounds memory and
+// scan time on very large workspaces; the picker indicates when results were
+// truncated. Set to 0 for no limit.
+"relativePath.maxFilesCached": 100000,
+
 // Removes the leading ./ character when the path is pointing to a parent folder.
 "relativePath.removeLeadingDot": true,
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index a140884..1cab012 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -103,6 +103,11 @@
                     "type": "integer",
                     "default": 1000,
                     "description": "Max number of files searched in quick filter. Extending this may lead to performance issues."
+                },
+                "relativePath.maxFilesCached": {
+                    "type": "integer",
+                    "default": 100000,
+                    "description": "Max number of files scanned and cached from the workspace. Bounds memory and scan time on very large workspaces. The picker indicates when results were truncated. Set to 0 for no limit."
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/extension.ts b/src/extension.ts
index 3e8f76a..d3b05ab 100644
--- a/src/extension.ts
+++ b/src/extension.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import {
 } from "vscode";
 import { getClosestMatches } from "./closest-match";
 import { buildExcludeGlob, normalizeIncludeGlob } from "./globs";
+import { isTruncated, resolveMaxResults } from "./search-limit";
 
 // this method is called when your extension is activated
 // your extension is activated the very first time the command is executed
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ export function activate(context: ExtensionContext) {
 
 class RelativePath {
     private _fileNames: string[];
+    private _truncated: boolean;
     private _watcher: FileSystemWatcher;
     private _workspacePath: string;
     private _configuration: WorkspaceConfiguration;
@@ -44,6 +46,7 @@ class RelativePath {
 
     constructor() {
         this._fileNames = null;
+        this._truncated = false;
         this._tokenSource = null;
         this._workspacePath = this.getWorkspaceFolder();
         this._configuration = workspace.getConfiguration("relativePath");
@@ -120,9 +123,12 @@ class RelativePath {
             normalizeIncludeGlob(includeGlob)
         );
         const exclude = buildExcludeGlob(this._configuration.get("ignore"));
+        const maxResults = resolveMaxResults(
+            this._configuration.get("maxFilesCached")
+        );
 
         workspace
-            .findFiles(include, exclude, undefined, tokenSource.token)
+            .findFiles(include, exclude, maxResults, tokenSource.token)
             .then((files) => {
                 if (this._tokenSource !== tokenSource) {
                     // A newer search superseded this one
@@ -134,6 +140,7 @@ class RelativePath {
                     return;
                 }
 
+                this._truncated = isTruncated(files.length, maxResults);
                 this._fileNames = files.map((file) =>
                     file.fsPath.replace(/\\/g, "/")
                 );
@@ -188,12 +195,14 @@ class RelativePath {
             const lastConfig = this._configuration;
             this._configuration = workspace.getConfiguration("relativePath");
 
-            // Handle updates to the ignored property if there's one
+            // Handle updates to the properties that shape the cached file
+            // list if there are any
             if (
                 this.ignoreWasUpdated(
                     this._configuration.ignore,
                     lastConfig.ignore
-                )
+                ) ||
+                this._configuration.maxFilesCached !== lastConfig.maxFilesCached
             ) {
                 this.updateFiles(true);
             }
@@ -319,11 +328,21 @@ class RelativePath {
         const allowQuickFilter =
             this._configuration.searchCountLimit > this._fileNames.length;
 
+        // When the scan stopped at relativePath.maxFilesCached, say so
+        // instead of presenting a silently partial list.
+        const foundLabel = this._truncated
+            ? `Found the first ${this._fileNames.length} files (capped by 'relativePath.maxFilesCached')`
+            : `Found ${this._fileNames.length} files`;
+
         if (allowQuickFilter) {
-            this.showQuickPick(this._fileNames, editor);
+            this.showQuickPick(
+                this._fileNames,
+                editor,
+                this._truncated ? `${foundLabel}. Type to filter.` : undefined
+            );
         } else {
             // Don't filter on too many files. Show the input search box instead
-            const placeHolder = `Found ${this._fileNames.length} files but your limit is ${this._configuration.searchCountLimit}. Start typing or ignore files with 'relativePath.ignore' in settings.`;
+            const placeHolder = `${foundLabel} but your limit is ${this._configuration.searchCountLimit}. Start typing or ignore files with 'relativePath.ignore' in settings.`;
             const input = window.showInputBox({ placeHolder });
             input.then(
                 (val) => {
diff --git a/src/search-limit.ts b/src/search-limit.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9175a83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/search-limit.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+// Bounds the workspace file scan so very large workspaces (huge monorepos,
+// folders that slip past the ignore globs) can't pin memory or block the
+// picker behind an unbounded disk crawl. See issue #74.
+
+export const DEFAULT_MAX_FILES_CACHED = 100_000;
+
+// Sanitizes the relativePath.maxFilesCached setting into a value for
+// workspace.findFiles' maxResults parameter. Zero or negative is an explicit
+// opt-out (no limit, the pre-#74 behavior); anything non-numeric falls back
+// to the default cap.
+export function resolveMaxResults(configValue: unknown): number | undefined {
+    if (typeof configValue !== "number" || !Number.isFinite(configValue)) {
+        return DEFAULT_MAX_FILES_CACHED;
+    }
+    if (configValue <= 0) {
+        return undefined;
+    }
+    return Math.floor(configValue);
+}
+
+// findFiles gives no explicit truncation flag; hitting the cap exactly is the
+// signal that more files likely exist.
+export function isTruncated(
+    fileCount: number,
+    maxResults: number | undefined
+): boolean {
+    return maxResults !== undefined && fileCount >= maxResults;
+}
diff --git a/test/search-limit.test.ts b/test/search-limit.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f343e09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/search-limit.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import * as assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import { test } from "node:test";
+import {
+    DEFAULT_MAX_FILES_CACHED,
+    isTruncated,
+    resolveMaxResults,
+} from "../src/search-limit";
+
+test("falls back to the default cap when the setting is missing or invalid", () => {
+    assert.equal(resolveMaxResults(undefined), DEFAULT_MAX_FILES_CACHED);
+    assert.equal(resolveMaxResults(null), DEFAULT_MAX_FILES_CACHED);
+    assert.equal(resolveMaxResults("50000"), DEFAULT_MAX_FILES_CACHED);
+    assert.equal(resolveMaxResults(NaN), DEFAULT_MAX_FILES_CACHED);
+    assert.equal(resolveMaxResults(Infinity), DEFAULT_MAX_FILES_CACHED);
+});
+
+test("treats zero or negative as an explicit opt-out (no limit)", () => {
+    assert.equal(resolveMaxResults(0), undefined);
+    assert.equal(resolveMaxResults(-1), undefined);
+});
+
+test("passes positive values through, flooring fractions", () => {
+    assert.equal(resolveMaxResults(1), 1);
+    assert.equal(resolveMaxResults(100_000), 100_000);
+    assert.equal(resolveMaxResults(1234.9), 1234);
+});
+
+test("reports truncation only when the cap was reached", () => {
+    assert.equal(isTruncated(100_000, 100_000), true);
+    assert.equal(isTruncated(99_999, 100_000), false);
+    assert.equal(isTruncated(0, 100_000), false);
+    // No cap -> never truncated, regardless of count.
+    assert.equal(isTruncated(10_000_000, undefined), false);
+});