diff --git a/fs/ntfs3/fslog.c b/fs/ntfs3/fslog.c
index e1f1c6a26785..e5ff99a2e6a2 100644
--- a/fs/ntfs3/fslog.c
+++ b/fs/ntfs3/fslog.c
@@ -764,8 +764,19 @@ static bool check_rstbl(const struct RESTART_TABLE *rt, size_t bytes)
 	/*
 	 * Walk through the list headed by the first entry to make
 	 * sure none of the entries are currently being used.
+	 *
+	 * Bound traversal by ne (rt->used) to defeat a crafted on-disk
+	 * cycle in the free chain.  Each entry in a legitimate free
+	 * list is unique, so a chain that visits more than ne slots
+	 * is malformed.  Without this guard, an attacker-controlled
+	 * RESTART_TABLE with a self-loop or A->B->A cycle whose
+	 * offsets satisfy the existing alignment + in-bounds guards
+	 * spins forever at mount time.
 	 */
-	for (off = ff; off;) {
+	for (off = ff, i = 0; off; i++) {
+		if (i > ne)
+			return false;
+
 		if (off == RESTART_ENTRY_ALLOCATED)
 			return false;