diff --git a/pex_reactor.go b/pex_reactor.go
index 5cea1cb3c..3e03138c1 100644
--- a/pex_reactor.go
+++ b/pex_reactor.go
@@ -12,10 +12,15 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	PexChannel               = byte(0x00)
+	PexChannel = byte(0x00)
+	// period to ensure peers connected
 	defaultEnsurePeersPeriod = 30 * time.Second
 	minNumOutboundPeers      = 10
 	maxPexMessageSize        = 1048576 // 1MB
+
+	// maximum messages one peer can send to us during `msgCountByPeerFlushInterval`
+	defaultMaxMsgCountByPeer    = 1000
+	msgCountByPeerFlushInterval = 1 * time.Hour
 )
 
 // PEXReactor handles PEX (peer exchange) and ensures that an
@@ -26,12 +31,18 @@ type PEXReactor struct {
 	sw                *Switch
 	book              *AddrBook
 	ensurePeersPeriod time.Duration
+
+	// tracks message count by peer, so we can prevent abuse
+	msgCountByPeer    map[string]uint16
+	maxMsgCountByPeer uint16
 }
 
 func NewPEXReactor(b *AddrBook) *PEXReactor {
 	r := &PEXReactor{
 		book:              b,
 		ensurePeersPeriod: defaultEnsurePeersPeriod,
+		msgCountByPeer:    make(map[string]uint16),
+		maxMsgCountByPeer: defaultMaxMsgCountByPeer,
 	}
 	r.BaseReactor = *NewBaseReactor(log, "PEXReactor", r)
 	return r
@@ -41,6 +52,7 @@ func (r *PEXReactor) OnStart() error {
 	r.BaseReactor.OnStart()
 	r.book.Start()
 	go r.ensurePeersRoutine()
+	go r.flushMsgCountByPeer()
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -89,24 +101,29 @@ func (r *PEXReactor) RemovePeer(p *Peer, reason interface{}) {
 
 // Receive implements Reactor by handling incoming PEX messages.
 func (r *PEXReactor) Receive(chID byte, src *Peer, msgBytes []byte) {
+	srcAddr := src.Connection().RemoteAddress
+	srcAddrStr := srcAddr.String()
+	r.msgCountByPeer[srcAddrStr]++
+	if r.ReachedMaxMsgCountForPeer(srcAddrStr) {
+		log.Warn("Maximum number of messages reached for peer", "peer", srcAddrStr)
+		// TODO remove src from peers?
+		return
+	}
+
 	_, msg, err := DecodeMessage(msgBytes)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Warn("Error decoding message", "error", err)
 		return
 	}
-
 	log.Notice("Received message", "msg", msg)
 
 	switch msg := msg.(type) {
 	case *pexRequestMessage:
 		// src requested some peers.
-		// TODO: prevent abuse.
 		r.SendAddrs(src, r.book.GetSelection())
 	case *pexAddrsMessage:
 		// We received some peer addresses from src.
-		// TODO: prevent abuse.
 		// (We don't want to get spammed with bad peers)
-		srcAddr := src.Connection().RemoteAddress
 		for _, addr := range msg.Addrs {
 			if addr != nil {
 				r.book.AddAddress(addr, srcAddr)
@@ -132,6 +149,17 @@ func (r *PEXReactor) SetEnsurePeersPeriod(d time.Duration) {
 	r.ensurePeersPeriod = d
 }
 
+// SetMaxMsgCountByPeer sets maximum messages one peer can send to us during 'msgCountByPeerFlushInterval'.
+func (r *PEXReactor) SetMaxMsgCountByPeer(v uint16) {
+	r.maxMsgCountByPeer = v
+}
+
+// ReachedMaxMsgCountForPeer returns true if we received too many
+// messages from peer with address `addr`.
+func (r *PEXReactor) ReachedMaxMsgCountForPeer(addr string) bool {
+	return r.msgCountByPeer[addr] >= r.maxMsgCountByPeer
+}
+
 // Ensures that sufficient peers are connected. (continuous)
 func (r *PEXReactor) ensurePeersRoutine() {
 	// Randomize when routine starts
@@ -143,17 +171,16 @@ func (r *PEXReactor) ensurePeersRoutine() {
 
 	// fire periodically
 	ticker := time.NewTicker(r.ensurePeersPeriod)
-FOR_LOOP:
+
 	for {
 		select {
 		case <-ticker.C:
 			r.ensurePeers()
 		case <-r.Quit:
-			break FOR_LOOP
+			ticker.Stop()
+			return
 		}
 	}
-
-	ticker.Stop()
 }
 
 // ensurePeers ensures that sufficient peers are connected. (once)
@@ -222,6 +249,20 @@ func (r *PEXReactor) ensurePeers() {
 	}
 }
 
+func (r *PEXReactor) flushMsgCountByPeer() {
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(msgCountByPeerFlushInterval)
+
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ticker.C:
+			r.msgCountByPeer = make(map[string]uint16)
+		case <-r.Quit:
+			ticker.Stop()
+			return
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Messages
 
diff --git a/pex_reactor_test.go b/pex_reactor_test.go
index 762d96810..7c3a2dae4 100644
--- a/pex_reactor_test.go
+++ b/pex_reactor_test.go
@@ -102,6 +102,21 @@ func TestPEXReactorReceive(t *testing.T) {
 	r.Receive(PexChannel, peer, msg)
 }
 
+func TestPEXReactorAbuseFromPeer(t *testing.T) {
+	book := NewAddrBook(createTempFileName("addrbook"), true)
+	r := NewPEXReactor(book)
+	r.SetMaxMsgCountByPeer(5)
+
+	peer := createRandomPeer(false)
+
+	msg := wire.BinaryBytes(struct{ PexMessage }{&pexRequestMessage{}})
+	for i := 0; i < 10; i++ {
+		r.Receive(PexChannel, peer, msg)
+	}
+
+	assert.True(t, r.ReachedMaxMsgCountForPeer(peer.ListenAddr))
+}
+
 func createRandomPeer(outbound bool) *Peer {
 	addr := Fmt("%v.%v.%v.%v:46656", rand.Int()%256, rand.Int()%256, rand.Int()%256, rand.Int()%256)
 	return &Peer{