diff --git a/main/astobj2.c b/main/astobj2.c
index 7320c5efbd..569db0b7b5 100644
--- a/main/astobj2.c
+++ b/main/astobj2.c
@@ -421,6 +421,19 @@ static int internal_ao2_ref(void *user_data, int delta, const char *file, int li
 
 	if (0 < current_value) {
 		/* The object still lives. */
+#define EXCESSIVE_REF_COUNT		100000
+
+		if (EXCESSIVE_REF_COUNT <= current_value && ret < EXCESSIVE_REF_COUNT) {
+			char excessive_ref_buf[100];
+
+			/* We just reached or went over the excessive ref count trigger */
+			snprintf(excessive_ref_buf, sizeof(excessive_ref_buf),
+				"Excessive refcount %d reached on ao2 object %p",
+				current_value, user_data);
+			ast_log(__LOG_ERROR, file, line, func, "%s\n", excessive_ref_buf);
+
+			__ast_assert_failed(0, excessive_ref_buf, file, line, func);
+		}
 		return ret;
 	}