diff --git a/include/libssh/sftp.h b/include/libssh/sftp.h
index e210a1be..4b4f8481 100644
--- a/include/libssh/sftp.h
+++ b/include/libssh/sftp.h
@@ -550,6 +550,10 @@ LIBSSH_API int sftp_async_read(sftp_file file, void *data, uint32_t len, uint32_
 /**
  * @brief Write to a file using an opened sftp file handle.
  *
+ * The maximum size of the SFTP packet payload is 32768 bytes so the count
+ * parameter is capped at this value. This is low-level function so it does not
+ * try to send more than this amount of data.
+ *
  * @param file          Open sftp file handle to write to.
  *
  * @param buf           Pointer to buffer to write data.
diff --git a/src/sftp.c b/src/sftp.c
index d95af819..c1f29449 100644
--- a/src/sftp.c
+++ b/src/sftp.c
@@ -2211,6 +2211,17 @@ ssize_t sftp_write(sftp_file file, const void *buf, size_t count) {
 
   id = sftp_get_new_id(file->sftp);
 
+
+  /* limit the writes to the maximum specified in Section 3 of
+   * https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-secsh-filexfer-02
+   *
+   * FIXME: This value should be adjusted to the value from the
+   * limits@openssh.com extension if supported
+   * TODO: We should iterate over the blocks rather than writing less than
+   * requested to provide less surprises to the calling applications.
+   */
+  count = count > 32768 ? 32768 : count;
+
   rc = ssh_buffer_pack(buffer,
                        "dSqdP",
                        id,