diff --git a/lib/defines.h b/lib/defines.h
--- a/lib/defines.h
+++ b/lib/defines.h
@@ -388,4 +388,7 @@ extern char *strerror ();
 #  define shadow_getenv(name) getenv(name)
 #endif
 
+/* Maximum length of passwd entry */
+#define PASSWD_ENTRY_MAX_LENGTH 32768
+
 #endif				/* _DEFINES_H_ */
diff --git a/lib/pwio.c b/lib/pwio.c
--- a/lib/pwio.c
+++ b/lib/pwio.c
@@ -79,7 +79,10 @@ static int passwd_put (const void *ent, FILE * file)
 	    || (pw->pw_gid == (gid_t)-1)
 	    || (valid_field (pw->pw_gecos, ":\n") == -1)
 	    || (valid_field (pw->pw_dir, ":\n") == -1)
-	    || (valid_field (pw->pw_shell, ":\n") == -1)) {
+	    || (valid_field (pw->pw_shell, ":\n") == -1)
+	    || (strlen (pw->pw_name) + strlen (pw->pw_passwd) +
+	        strlen (pw->pw_gecos) + strlen (pw->pw_dir) +
+	        strlen (pw->pw_shell) + 100 > PASSWD_ENTRY_MAX_LENGTH)) {
 		return -1;
 	}
 
diff --git a/lib/sgetpwent.c b/lib/sgetpwent.c
--- a/lib/sgetpwent.c
+++ b/lib/sgetpwent.c
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
 struct passwd *sgetpwent (const char *buf)
 {
 	static struct passwd pwent;
-	static char pwdbuf[1024];
+	static char pwdbuf[PASSWD_ENTRY_MAX_LENGTH];
 	register int i;
 	register char *cp;
 	char *fields[NFIELDS];
@@ -67,8 +67,10 @@ struct passwd *sgetpwent (const char *buf)
 	 * the password structure remain valid.
 	 */
 
-	if (strlen (buf) >= sizeof pwdbuf)
+	if (strlen (buf) >= sizeof pwdbuf) {
+		fprintf (stderr, "Too long passwd entry encountered, file corruption?\n");
 		return 0;	/* fail if too long */
+	}
 	strcpy (pwdbuf, buf);
 
 	/*
diff --git a/lib/sgetspent.c b/lib/sgetspent.c
--- a/lib/sgetspent.c
+++ b/lib/sgetspent.c
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
  */
 struct spwd *sgetspent (const char *string)
 {
-	static char spwbuf[1024];
+	static char spwbuf[PASSWD_ENTRY_MAX_LENGTH];
 	static struct spwd spwd;
 	char *fields[FIELDS];
 	char *cp;
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ struct spwd *sgetspent (const char *string)
 	 */
 
 	if (strlen (string) >= sizeof spwbuf) {
+		fprintf (stderr, "Too long shadow entry encountered, file corruption?\n");
 		return 0;	/* fail if too long */
 	}
 	strcpy (spwbuf, string);
diff --git a/lib/shadowio.c b/lib/shadowio.c
--- a/lib/shadowio.c
+++ b/lib/shadowio.c
@@ -79,7 +79,9 @@ static int shadow_put (const void *ent, FILE * file)
 
 	if (   (NULL == sp)
 	    || (valid_field (sp->sp_namp, ":\n") == -1)
-	    || (valid_field (sp->sp_pwdp, ":\n") == -1)) {
+	    || (valid_field (sp->sp_pwdp, ":\n") == -1)
+	    || (strlen (sp->sp_namp) + strlen (sp->sp_pwdp) +
+	        1000 > PASSWD_ENTRY_MAX_LENGTH)) {
 		return -1;
 	}