diff --git a/src/content/ContentLoader.cpp b/src/content/ContentLoader.cpp
index 33b0cf4a..7adb8d3b 100644
--- a/src/content/ContentLoader.cpp
+++ b/src/content/ContentLoader.cpp
@@ -255,6 +255,13 @@ void ContentLoader::loadBlock(
     if (root.has("fields")) {
         def.dataStruct = std::make_unique<data::StructLayout>();
         def.dataStruct->deserialize(root["fields"]);
+        if (def.dataStruct->size() > MAX_BLOCK_FIELDS_SIZE) {
+            throw std::runtime_error(
+                util::quote(def.name) + 
+                " fields total size exceeds limit (" + 
+                std::to_string(def.dataStruct->size()) + "/" +
+                std::to_string(MAX_BLOCK_FIELDS_SIZE) + ")");
+        }
     }
 
     if (def.tickInterval == 0) {
diff --git a/src/voxels/Block.hpp b/src/voxels/Block.hpp
index 4cbbe394..555d0f05 100644
--- a/src/voxels/Block.hpp
+++ b/src/voxels/Block.hpp
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ inline constexpr uint FACE_PZ = 5;
 /// complex hitboxes
 inline constexpr uint BLOCK_AABB_GRID = 16;
 
+inline constexpr size_t MAX_BLOCK_FIELDS_SIZE = 240;
+
 inline std::string DEFAULT_MATERIAL = "base:stone";
 
 struct block_funcs_set {