diff -r 3c62e3b7f658 -r b989f6228833 src/mem/packet_queue.hh
--- a/src/mem/packet_queue.hh	Fri Mar 15 16:28:08 2013 -0500
+++ b/src/mem/packet_queue.hh	Sun Mar 17 19:52:43 2013 -0500
@@ -84,6 +84,9 @@
      * serviced yet. */
     DeferredPacketList transmitList;
 
+    /** Maximum packet buffer depth. Used for sanity checking */
+    unsigned maxQueueDepth;
+
     /** The manager which is used for the event queue */
     EventManager& em;
 
@@ -178,6 +181,13 @@
      */
     virtual const std::string name() const = 0;
 
+    /**
+     * Set maximum depth of the packet queue. Default is 100 packets.
+     *
+     * @param Maximum number of packets this queue can hold
+     */
+    void setMaxDepth(unsigned max_depth) { maxQueueDepth = max_depth; }
+
     /** Check the list of buffered packets against the supplied
      * functional request. */
     bool checkFunctional(PacketPtr pkt);
diff -r 3c62e3b7f658 -r b989f6228833 src/mem/packet_queue.cc
--- a/src/mem/packet_queue.cc	Fri Mar 15 16:28:08 2013 -0500
+++ b/src/mem/packet_queue.cc	Sun Mar 17 19:52:43 2013 -0500
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@
 using namespace std;
 
 PacketQueue::PacketQueue(EventManager& _em, const std::string& _label)
-    : em(_em), sendEvent(this), drainManager(NULL), label(_label),
-      waitingOnRetry(false)
+    : maxQueueDepth(100), em(_em), sendEvent(this), drainManager(NULL),
+      label(_label), waitingOnRetry(false)
 {
 }
 
@@ -115,9 +115,10 @@
 
     // add a very basic sanity check on the port to ensure the
     // invisible buffer is not growing beyond reasonable limits
-    if (transmitList.size() > 100) {
-        panic("Packet queue %s has grown beyond 100 packets\n",
-              name());
+    if (transmitList.size() > maxQueueDepth) {
+        panic("Packet queue %s has grown beyond %u packets. "
+              "To extend this limit, call setMaxDepth(max_depth)\n",
+              name(), maxQueueDepth);
     }
 
     // nothing on the list, or earlier than current front element,