diff --git a/lib/datasource.js b/lib/datasource.js
index 6b6fe32e..f7530118 100644
--- a/lib/datasource.js
+++ b/lib/datasource.js
@@ -194,6 +194,11 @@ util.inherits(DataSource, EventEmitter);
 // allow child classes to supply a data access object
 DataSource.DataAccessObject = DataAccessObject;
 
+/**
+ * Global maximum number of event listeners
+ */
+DataSource.DEFAULT_MAX_OFFLINE_REQUESTS = 16;
+
 /**
  * Set up the connector instance for backward compatibility with JugglingDB schema/adapter
  * @private
@@ -207,6 +212,10 @@ DataSource.prototype._setupConnector = function() {
       this.connector.dataSource = this;
     }
     const dataSource = this;
+
+    // Set max listeners to a default/configured value
+    dataSource.setMaxListeners(dataSource.getMaxOfflineRequests());
+
     this.connector.log = function(query, start) {
       dataSource.log(query, start);
     };
@@ -2699,6 +2708,27 @@ DataSource.prototype.beginTransaction = function(options) {
   return Transaction.begin(this.connector, options);
 };
 
+/**
+ * Get the maximum number of event listeners
+ */
+DataSource.prototype.getMaxOfflineRequests = function() {
+  // Set max listeners to a default value
+  // Override this default value with a datasource setting
+  // 'maxOfflineRequests' from an application's datasources.json
+
+  let maxOfflineRequests = DataSource.DEFAULT_MAX_OFFLINE_REQUESTS;
+  if (
+    this.settings &&
+    this.settings.maxOfflineRequests
+  ) {
+    if (typeof this.settings.maxOfflineRequests !== 'number')
+      throw new Error('maxOfflineRequests must be a number');
+
+    maxOfflineRequests = this.settings.maxOfflineRequests;
+  }
+  return maxOfflineRequests;
+};
+
 /*! The hidden property call is too expensive so it is not used that much
 */
 /**
diff --git a/test/datasource.test.js b/test/datasource.test.js
index a3795cd6..3e4427e4 100644
--- a/test/datasource.test.js
+++ b/test/datasource.test.js
@@ -545,6 +545,28 @@ describe('DataSource', function() {
       ds.connector.should.equal(connector);
     });
   });
+
+  describe('getMaxOfflineRequests', () => {
+    let ds;
+    beforeEach(() => ds = new DataSource('ds', {connector: 'memory'}));
+
+    it('sets the default maximum number of event listeners to 16', () => {
+      ds.getMaxOfflineRequests().should.be.eql(16);
+    });
+
+    it('uses provided number of listeners', () => {
+      ds.settings.maxOfflineRequests = 17;
+      ds.getMaxOfflineRequests().should.be.eql(17);
+    });
+
+    it('throws an error if a non-number is provided for the max number of listeners', () => {
+      ds.settings.maxOfflineRequests = '17';
+
+      (function() {
+        return ds.getMaxOfflineRequests();
+      }).should.throw('maxOfflineRequests must be a number');
+    });
+  });
 });
 
 function givenMockConnector(props) {