diff --git a/lib/pixel.js b/lib/pixel.js
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/pixel.js
+++ b/lib/pixel.js
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ PIXEL_SET_STRIP =   0x04,
 PIXEL_CONFIG_FIRMATA = 0x05,
 PIXEL_CONFIG_BACKPACK = 0x06;
 
+var MAX_STRIPS = 8;
 
 var PIN_DEFAULT = 6; // use this if not supplied
 
@@ -83,6 +84,13 @@ var Controllers = {
                     });
                 }
 
+                // put in check if it's gone over.
+                if (strip_definition.length > MAX_STRIPS) {
+                    var err = new Error("Maximum number of strips " + MAX_STRIPS + " exceeded");
+                    this.emit("error", err);
+                    return;
+                }
+
                 var total_length = 0;
                 strip_definition.forEach(function(data) {
                     total_length += data.length;
@@ -126,6 +134,7 @@ var Controllers = {
                     if (error) {
                         err = error;
                         this.emit("error", err);
+                        return;
                     }
                     this.emit("ready", err);
Put in max strips detection. Fixes #<I>