diff --git a/help/help_mp-en.h b/help/help_mp-en.h
index af90d9eacd..b9c35a9f7a 100644
--- a/help/help_mp-en.h
+++ b/help/help_mp-en.h
@@ -1579,6 +1579,7 @@ static char help_text[]=
 #define MSGTR_LIBVO_MGA_IncompatibleDriverVersion "Your mga_vid driver version is incompatible with this MPlayer version!\n"
 #define MSGTR_LIBVO_MGA_UsingBuffers "Using %d buffers.\n"
 #define MSGTR_LIBVO_MGA_CouldntOpen "Couldn't open: %s\n"
+#define MGSTR_LIBVO_MGA_ResolutionTooHigh "Source resolution is in at least one dimension larger than 1023x1023. Please rescale in software or use -lavdopts lowres=1\n"
 
 // libvo/vesa_lvo.c
 
diff --git a/libvo/mga_common.c b/libvo/mga_common.c
index ba8fce6e57..a6a6e7b396 100644
--- a/libvo/mga_common.c
+++ b/libvo/mga_common.c
@@ -371,6 +371,12 @@ static int mga_init(int width,int height,unsigned int format){
             return (-1);
         }
 
+	if(width>1023 || height >1024)
+	{
+		mp_msg(MSGT_VO,MSGL_ERR, MGSTR_LIBVO_MGA_ResolutionTooHigh);
+		return (-1);
+	}
+
 	mga_vid_config.src_width = width;
 	mga_vid_config.src_height= height;
 	if(!mga_vid_config.dest_width)