diff --git a/bfd/bfd-in2.h b/bfd/bfd-in2.h
index 9a698316980..43d4ff0b925 100644
--- a/bfd/bfd-in2.h
+++ b/bfd/bfd-in2.h
@@ -6717,6 +6717,9 @@ struct bfd
      be used only for archive elements.  */
   int archive_pass;
 
+  /* The total size of memory from bfd_alloc.  */
+  bfd_size_type alloc_size;
+
   /* Stuff only useful for object files:
      The start address.  */
   bfd_vma start_address;
diff --git a/bfd/bfd.c b/bfd/bfd.c
index 0952aaea19c..eb555ad5df2 100644
--- a/bfd/bfd.c
+++ b/bfd/bfd.c
@@ -286,6 +286,9 @@ CODE_FRAGMENT
 .     be used only for archive elements.  *}
 .  int archive_pass;
 .
+.  {* The total size of memory from bfd_alloc.  *}
+.  bfd_size_type alloc_size;
+.
 .  {* Stuff only useful for object files:
 .     The start address.  *}
 .  bfd_vma start_address;
diff --git a/bfd/elf-bfd.h b/bfd/elf-bfd.h
index 8f985ab8917..65c08ca9d4a 100644
--- a/bfd/elf-bfd.h
+++ b/bfd/elf-bfd.h
@@ -2482,6 +2482,9 @@ extern char *_bfd_elfcore_strndup
 
 extern Elf_Internal_Rela *_bfd_elf_link_read_relocs
   (bfd *, asection *, void *, Elf_Internal_Rela *, bool);
+extern Elf_Internal_Rela *_bfd_elf_link_info_read_relocs
+  (bfd *, struct bfd_link_info *, asection *, void *, Elf_Internal_Rela *,
+   bool);
 
 extern bool _bfd_elf_link_output_relocs
   (bfd *, asection *, Elf_Internal_Shdr *, Elf_Internal_Rela *,
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-i386.c b/bfd/elf32-i386.c
index cf7cd076b17..1898ba3e33a 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-i386.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-i386.c
@@ -1915,13 +1915,14 @@ elf_i386_check_relocs (bfd *abfd,
 
   if (elf_section_data (sec)->this_hdr.contents != contents)
     {
-      if (!converted && !info->keep_memory)
+      if (!converted && !_bfd_link_keep_memory (info))
 	free (contents);
       else
 	{
 	  /* Cache the section contents for elf_link_input_bfd if any
 	     load is converted or --no-keep-memory isn't used.  */
 	  elf_section_data (sec)->this_hdr.contents = contents;
+	  info->cache_size += sec->size;
 	}
     }
 
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-x86-64.c b/bfd/elf64-x86-64.c
index 98fb88113c0..4c55c5999c3 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-x86-64.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-x86-64.c
@@ -2365,13 +2365,14 @@ elf_x86_64_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 
   if (elf_section_data (sec)->this_hdr.contents != contents)
     {
-      if (!converted && !info->keep_memory)
+      if (!converted && !_bfd_link_keep_memory (info))
 	free (contents);
       else
 	{
 	  /* Cache the section contents for elf_link_input_bfd if any
 	     load is converted or --no-keep-memory isn't used.  */
 	  elf_section_data (sec)->this_hdr.contents = contents;
+	  info->cache_size += sec->size;
 	}
     }
 
diff --git a/bfd/elflink.c b/bfd/elflink.c
index 9a05208253c..003c9546b03 100644
--- a/bfd/elflink.c
+++ b/bfd/elflink.c
@@ -2619,14 +2619,16 @@ elf_link_read_relocs_from_section (bfd *abfd,
    according to the KEEP_MEMORY argument.  If O has two relocation
    sections (both REL and RELA relocations), then the REL_HDR
    relocations will appear first in INTERNAL_RELOCS, followed by the
-   RELA_HDR relocations.  */
+   RELA_HDR relocations.  If INFO isn't NULL and KEEP_MEMORY is true,
+   update cache_size.  */
 
 Elf_Internal_Rela *
-_bfd_elf_link_read_relocs (bfd *abfd,
-			   asection *o,
-			   void *external_relocs,
-			   Elf_Internal_Rela *internal_relocs,
-			   bool keep_memory)
+_bfd_elf_link_info_read_relocs (bfd *abfd,
+				struct bfd_link_info *info,
+				asection *o,
+				void *external_relocs,
+				Elf_Internal_Rela *internal_relocs,
+				bool keep_memory)
 {
   void *alloc1 = NULL;
   Elf_Internal_Rela *alloc2 = NULL;
@@ -2646,7 +2648,11 @@ _bfd_elf_link_read_relocs (bfd *abfd,
 
       size = (bfd_size_type) o->reloc_count * sizeof (Elf_Internal_Rela);
       if (keep_memory)
-	internal_relocs = alloc2 = (Elf_Internal_Rela *) bfd_alloc (abfd, size);
+	{
+	  internal_relocs = alloc2 = (Elf_Internal_Rela *) bfd_alloc (abfd, size);
+	  if (info)
+	    info->cache_size += size;
+	}
       else
 	internal_relocs = alloc2 = (Elf_Internal_Rela *) bfd_malloc (size);
       if (internal_relocs == NULL)
@@ -2710,6 +2716,22 @@ _bfd_elf_link_read_relocs (bfd *abfd,
   return NULL;
 }
 
+/* This is similar to _bfd_elf_link_info_read_relocs, except for that
+   NULL is passed to _bfd_elf_link_info_read_relocs for pointer to
+   struct bfd_link_info.  */
+
+Elf_Internal_Rela *
+_bfd_elf_link_read_relocs (bfd *abfd,
+			   asection *o,
+			   void *external_relocs,
+			   Elf_Internal_Rela *internal_relocs,
+			   bool keep_memory)
+{
+  return _bfd_elf_link_info_read_relocs (abfd, NULL, o, external_relocs,
+					 internal_relocs, keep_memory);
+
+}
+
 /* Compute the size of, and allocate space for, REL_HDR which is the
    section header for a section containing relocations for O.  */
 
@@ -4026,8 +4048,10 @@ _bfd_elf_link_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	      || bfd_is_abs_section (o->output_section))
 	    continue;
 
-	  internal_relocs = _bfd_elf_link_read_relocs (abfd, o, NULL, NULL,
-						       info->keep_memory);
+	  internal_relocs = _bfd_elf_link_info_read_relocs (abfd, info,
+							    o, NULL,
+							    NULL,
+							    _bfd_link_keep_memory (info));
 	  if (internal_relocs == NULL)
 	    return false;
 
@@ -5356,9 +5380,10 @@ elf_link_add_object_symbols (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 		  && (s->flags & SEC_DEBUGGING) != 0))
 	    continue;
 
-	  internal_relocs = _bfd_elf_link_read_relocs (abfd, s, NULL,
-						       NULL,
-						       info->keep_memory);
+	  internal_relocs = _bfd_elf_link_info_read_relocs (abfd, info,
+							    s, NULL,
+							    NULL,
+							    _bfd_link_keep_memory (info));
 	  if (internal_relocs == NULL)
 	    goto error_free_vers;
 
@@ -11186,8 +11211,10 @@ elf_link_input_bfd (struct elf_final_link_info *flinfo, bfd *input_bfd)
 
 	  /* Get the swapped relocs.  */
 	  internal_relocs
-	    = _bfd_elf_link_read_relocs (input_bfd, o, flinfo->external_relocs,
-					 flinfo->internal_relocs, false);
+	    = _bfd_elf_link_info_read_relocs (input_bfd, flinfo->info, o,
+					      flinfo->external_relocs,
+					      flinfo->internal_relocs,
+					      false);
 	  if (internal_relocs == NULL
 	      && o->reloc_count > 0)
 	    return false;
@@ -13279,8 +13306,12 @@ init_reloc_cookie (struct elf_reloc_cookie *cookie,
 	  info->callbacks->einfo (_("%P%X: can not read symbols: %E\n"));
 	  return false;
 	}
-      if (info->keep_memory)
-	symtab_hdr->contents = (bfd_byte *) cookie->locsyms;
+      if (_bfd_link_keep_memory (info) )
+	{
+	  symtab_hdr->contents = (bfd_byte *) cookie->locsyms;
+	  info->cache_size += (cookie->locsymcount
+			       * sizeof (Elf_External_Sym_Shndx));
+	}
     }
   return true;
 }
@@ -13312,8 +13343,9 @@ init_reloc_cookie_rels (struct elf_reloc_cookie *cookie,
     }
   else
     {
-      cookie->rels = _bfd_elf_link_read_relocs (abfd, sec, NULL, NULL,
-						info->keep_memory);
+      cookie->rels = _bfd_elf_link_info_read_relocs (abfd, info, sec,
+						     NULL, NULL,
+						     _bfd_link_keep_memory (info));
       if (cookie->rels == NULL)
 	return false;
       cookie->rel = cookie->rels;
@@ -13881,14 +13913,22 @@ elf_gc_propagate_vtable_entries_used (struct elf_link_hash_entry *h, void *okp)
   return true;
 }
 
+struct link_info_ok
+{
+  struct bfd_link_info *info;
+  bool ok;
+};
+
 static bool
-elf_gc_smash_unused_vtentry_relocs (struct elf_link_hash_entry *h, void *okp)
+elf_gc_smash_unused_vtentry_relocs (struct elf_link_hash_entry *h,
+				    void *ptr)
 {
   asection *sec;
   bfd_vma hstart, hend;
   Elf_Internal_Rela *relstart, *relend, *rel;
   const struct elf_backend_data *bed;
   unsigned int log_file_align;
+  struct link_info_ok *info = (struct link_info_ok *) ptr;
 
   /* Take care of both those symbols that do not describe vtables as
      well as those that are not loaded.  */
@@ -13904,9 +13944,10 @@ elf_gc_smash_unused_vtentry_relocs (struct elf_link_hash_entry *h, void *okp)
   hstart = h->root.u.def.value;
   hend = hstart + h->size;
 
-  relstart = _bfd_elf_link_read_relocs (sec->owner, sec, NULL, NULL, true);
+  relstart = _bfd_elf_link_info_read_relocs (sec->owner, info->info,
+					     sec, NULL, NULL, true);
   if (!relstart)
-    return *(bool *) okp = false;
+    return info->ok = false;
   bed = get_elf_backend_data (sec->owner);
   log_file_align = bed->s->log_file_align;
 
@@ -14029,6 +14070,7 @@ bfd_elf_gc_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
   elf_gc_mark_hook_fn gc_mark_hook;
   const struct elf_backend_data *bed = get_elf_backend_data (abfd);
   struct elf_link_hash_table *htab;
+  struct link_info_ok info_ok;
 
   if (!bed->can_gc_sections
       || !is_elf_hash_table (info->hash))
@@ -14070,8 +14112,10 @@ bfd_elf_gc_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
     return false;
 
   /* Kill the vtable relocations that were not used.  */
-  elf_link_hash_traverse (htab, elf_gc_smash_unused_vtentry_relocs, &ok);
-  if (!ok)
+  info_ok.info = info;
+  info_ok.ok = true;
+  elf_link_hash_traverse (htab, elf_gc_smash_unused_vtentry_relocs, &info_ok);
+  if (!info_ok.ok)
     return false;
 
   /* Mark dynamically referenced symbols.  */
diff --git a/bfd/libbfd-in.h b/bfd/libbfd-in.h
index 1f7e22186ec..89d2997aedf 100644
--- a/bfd/libbfd-in.h
+++ b/bfd/libbfd-in.h
@@ -894,6 +894,9 @@ extern bfd_byte * _bfd_write_unsigned_leb128
 
 extern struct bfd_link_info *_bfd_get_link_info (bfd *);
 
+extern bool _bfd_link_keep_memory (struct bfd_link_info *)
+  ATTRIBUTE_HIDDEN;
+
 #if GCC_VERSION >= 7000
 #define _bfd_mul_overflow(a, b, res) __builtin_mul_overflow (a, b, res)
 #else
diff --git a/bfd/libbfd.h b/bfd/libbfd.h
index c37ddc03cfd..69496411622 100644
--- a/bfd/libbfd.h
+++ b/bfd/libbfd.h
@@ -899,6 +899,9 @@ extern bfd_byte * _bfd_write_unsigned_leb128
 
 extern struct bfd_link_info *_bfd_get_link_info (bfd *);
 
+extern bool _bfd_link_keep_memory (struct bfd_link_info *)
+  ATTRIBUTE_HIDDEN;
+
 #if GCC_VERSION >= 7000
 #define _bfd_mul_overflow(a, b, res) __builtin_mul_overflow (a, b, res)
 #else
diff --git a/bfd/linker.c b/bfd/linker.c
index c350cd3fd15..755ff19923b 100644
--- a/bfd/linker.c
+++ b/bfd/linker.c
@@ -3535,3 +3535,38 @@ _bfd_nolink_bfd_define_start_stop (struct bfd_link_info *info ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 {
   return (struct bfd_link_hash_entry *) _bfd_ptr_bfd_null_error (sec->owner);
 }
+
+/* Return false if linker should avoid caching relocation infomation
+   and symbol tables of input files in memory.  */
+
+bool
+_bfd_link_keep_memory (struct bfd_link_info * info)
+{
+  bfd *abfd;
+  bfd_size_type size;
+
+  if (!info->keep_memory)
+    return false;
+
+  if (info->max_cache_size == (bfd_size_type) -1)
+    return true;
+
+  abfd = info->input_bfds;
+  size = info->cache_size;
+  do
+    {
+      if (size >= info->max_cache_size)
+	{
+	  /* Over the limit.  Reduce the memory usage.  */
+	  info->keep_memory = false;
+	  return false;
+	}
+      if (!abfd)
+	break;
+      size += abfd->alloc_size;
+      abfd = abfd->link.next;
+    }
+  while (1);
+
+  return true;
+}
diff --git a/bfd/opncls.c b/bfd/opncls.c
index 4fb79324c0a..96ff1e9f6a9 100644
--- a/bfd/opncls.c
+++ b/bfd/opncls.c
@@ -1032,6 +1032,8 @@ bfd_alloc (bfd *abfd, bfd_size_type size)
   ret = objalloc_alloc ((struct objalloc *) abfd->memory, ul_size);
   if (ret == NULL)
     bfd_set_error (bfd_error_no_memory);
+  else
+    abfd->alloc_size += size;
   return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/include/bfdlink.h b/include/bfdlink.h
index 7f1b12dbf37..54968585410 100644
--- a/include/bfdlink.h
+++ b/include/bfdlink.h
@@ -682,6 +682,13 @@ struct bfd_link_info
 
   /* The version information.  */
   struct bfd_elf_version_tree *version_info;
+
+  /* Size of cache.  Backend can use it to keep strace cache size.   */
+  bfd_size_type cache_size;
+
+  /* The maximum cache size.  Backend can use cache_size and and
+     max_cache_size to decide if keep_memory should be honored.  */
+  bfd_size_type max_cache_size;
 };
 
 /* Some forward-definitions used by some callbacks.  */
diff --git a/ld/NEWS b/ld/NEWS
index 11bc5745ebf..92dd4fd97cd 100644
--- a/ld/NEWS
+++ b/ld/NEWS
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 -*- text -*-
 
+* Add --max-cache-size=SIZE to set the the maximum cache size to SIZE
+  bytes.
+
 Changes in 2.37:
 
 * arm-symbianelf support removed.
diff --git a/ld/ld.texi b/ld/ld.texi
index dd8f571d4e4..67c50839b37 100644
--- a/ld/ld.texi
+++ b/ld/ld.texi
@@ -2839,6 +2839,12 @@ has been used.
 The @option{--reduce-memory-overheads} switch may be also be used to
 enable other tradeoffs in future versions of the linker.
 
+@kindex --max-cache-size=@var{size}
+@item --max-cache-size=@var{size}
+@command{ld} normally caches the relocation information and symbol tables
+of input files in memory with the unlimited size.  This option sets the
+maximum cache size to @var{size}.
+
 @kindex --build-id
 @kindex --build-id=@var{style}
 @item --build-id
diff --git a/ld/ldlex.h b/ld/ldlex.h
index 9e8bf5fb835..9707d57caf8 100644
--- a/ld/ldlex.h
+++ b/ld/ldlex.h
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ enum option_values
   OPTION_WARN_TEXTREL,
   OPTION_WARN_ALTERNATE_EM,
   OPTION_REDUCE_MEMORY_OVERHEADS,
+  OPTION_MAX_CACHE_SIZE,
 #if BFD_SUPPORTS_PLUGINS
   OPTION_PLUGIN,
   OPTION_PLUGIN_OPT,
diff --git a/ld/ldmain.c b/ld/ldmain.c
index 42660eb9a3c..e4c67740e37 100644
--- a/ld/ldmain.c
+++ b/ld/ldmain.c
@@ -331,6 +331,7 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 
   link_info.allow_undefined_version = true;
   link_info.keep_memory = true;
+  link_info.max_cache_size = (bfd_size_type) -1;
   link_info.combreloc = true;
   link_info.strip_discarded = true;
   link_info.prohibit_multiple_definition_absolute = false;
diff --git a/ld/lexsup.c b/ld/lexsup.c
index 00274c500d0..c128fe3a96b 100644
--- a/ld/lexsup.c
+++ b/ld/lexsup.c
@@ -433,6 +433,10 @@ static const struct ld_option ld_options[] =
      OPTION_REDUCE_MEMORY_OVERHEADS},
     '\0', NULL, N_("Reduce memory overheads, possibly taking much longer"),
     TWO_DASHES },
+  { {"max-cache-size=SIZE", required_argument, NULL,
+    OPTION_MAX_CACHE_SIZE},
+    '\0', NULL, N_("Set the maximum cache size to SIZE bytes"),
+    TWO_DASHES },
   { {"relax", no_argument, NULL, OPTION_RELAX},
     '\0', NULL, N_("Reduce code size by using target specific optimizations"), TWO_DASHES },
   { {"no-relax", no_argument, NULL, OPTION_NO_RELAX},
@@ -1631,6 +1635,17 @@ parse_args (unsigned argc, char **argv)
 	    config.hash_table_size = 1021;
 	  break;
 
+	case OPTION_MAX_CACHE_SIZE:
+	  {
+	    char *end;
+	    bfd_size_type cache_size = strtoul (optarg, &end, 0);
+	    if (*end != '\0')
+	      einfo (_("%F%P: invalid cache memory size: %s\n"),
+		     optarg);
+	    link_info.max_cache_size = cache_size;
+	  }
+	  break;
+
 	case OPTION_HASH_SIZE:
 	  {
 	    bfd_size_type new_size;
diff --git a/ld/testsuite/ld-bootstrap/bootstrap.exp b/ld/testsuite/ld-bootstrap/bootstrap.exp
index b21b48ab20e..9c27c5ff5d9 100644
--- a/ld/testsuite/ld-bootstrap/bootstrap.exp
+++ b/ld/testsuite/ld-bootstrap/bootstrap.exp
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@ if [check_plugin_api_available] {
 # really test -r.  Use ld1 to link a fresh ld, ld2.  Use ld2 to link a
 # new ld, ld3.  ld2 and ld3 should be identical.
 set test_flags {"" "strip" "--static" "-Wl,--traditional-format"
-		"-Wl,--no-keep-memory" "-Wl,--relax"}
+		"-Wl,--no-keep-memory" "-Wl,--relax"
+		"-Wl,--max-cache-size=-1"}
 if { [istarget "powerpc-*-*"] } {
     lappend test_flags "-Wl,--ppc476-workaround"
 }