diff --git a/fs/binfmt_em86.c b/fs/binfmt_em86.c
index f9c88d0c8ce..32fb00b52cd 100644
--- a/fs/binfmt_em86.c
+++ b/fs/binfmt_em86.c
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ static int load_em86(struct linux_binprm *bprm,struct pt_regs *regs)
 			return -ENOEXEC;
 	}
 
-	bprm->sh_bang = 1;	/* Well, the bang-shell is implicit... */
+	bprm->recursion_depth++; /* Well, the bang-shell is implicit... */
 	allow_write_access(bprm->file);
 	fput(bprm->file);
 	bprm->file = NULL;
diff --git a/fs/binfmt_misc.c b/fs/binfmt_misc.c
index 8d7e88e02e0..f2744ab4e5b 100644
--- a/fs/binfmt_misc.c
+++ b/fs/binfmt_misc.c
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ static int load_misc_binary(struct linux_binprm *bprm, struct pt_regs *regs)
 		goto _ret;
 
 	retval = -ENOEXEC;
-	if (bprm->misc_bang)
+	if (bprm->recursion_depth > BINPRM_MAX_RECURSION)
 		goto _ret;
 
 	/* to keep locking time low, we copy the interpreter string */
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ static int load_misc_binary(struct linux_binprm *bprm, struct pt_regs *regs)
 	if (retval < 0)
 		goto _error;
 
-	bprm->misc_bang = 1;
+	bprm->recursion_depth++;
 
 	retval = search_binary_handler (bprm, regs);
 	if (retval < 0)
diff --git a/fs/binfmt_script.c b/fs/binfmt_script.c
index 9e3963f7ebf..08343505e18 100644
--- a/fs/binfmt_script.c
+++ b/fs/binfmt_script.c
@@ -22,14 +22,15 @@ static int load_script(struct linux_binprm *bprm,struct pt_regs *regs)
 	char interp[BINPRM_BUF_SIZE];
 	int retval;
 
-	if ((bprm->buf[0] != '#') || (bprm->buf[1] != '!') || (bprm->sh_bang)) 
+	if ((bprm->buf[0] != '#') || (bprm->buf[1] != '!') ||
+	    (bprm->recursion_depth > BINPRM_MAX_RECURSION))
 		return -ENOEXEC;
 	/*
 	 * This section does the #! interpretation.
 	 * Sorta complicated, but hopefully it will work.  -TYT
 	 */
 
-	bprm->sh_bang = 1;
+	bprm->recursion_depth++;
 	allow_write_access(bprm->file);
 	fput(bprm->file);
 	bprm->file = NULL;
diff --git a/include/linux/binfmts.h b/include/linux/binfmts.h
index 54980a3c760..7394b5b349f 100644
--- a/include/linux/binfmts.h
+++ b/include/linux/binfmts.h
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ struct linux_binprm{
 #ifdef __alpha__
 	unsigned int taso:1;
 #endif
+	unsigned int recursion_depth;
 	struct file * file;
 	int e_uid, e_gid;
 	kernel_cap_t cap_post_exec_permitted;
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ struct linux_binprm{
 #define BINPRM_FLAGS_EXECFD_BIT 1
 #define BINPRM_FLAGS_EXECFD (1 << BINPRM_FLAGS_EXECFD_BIT)
 
+#define BINPRM_MAX_RECURSION 4
 
 /*
  * This structure defines the functions that are used to load the binary formats that