diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/runqueue.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/runqueue.py
index 1e47fe70ef..9667acc11c 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/runqueue.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/runqueue.py
@@ -159,6 +159,27 @@ class RunQueueScheduler(object):
                 self.buildable.append(tid)
 
         self.rev_prio_map = None
+        # Some hosts like openSUSE have readable /proc/pressure files
+        # but throw errors when these files are opened.
+        try:
+            subprocess.check_output(["cat", "/proc/pressure/cpu", "/proc/pressure/io"], \
+                                    universal_newlines=True, stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL)
+            self.readable_pressure_files = True
+        except:
+            if self.rq.max_cpu_pressure!=100 or self.rq.max_io_pressure!=100:
+                bb.warn("The /proc/pressure files can't be read. Continuing build without monitoring pressure")
+            self.readable_pressure_files = False
+
+    def exceeds_max_pressure(self):
+        if self.readable_pressure_files:
+            # extract avg10 from /proc/pressure/{cpu|io}
+            curr_pressure_sample = subprocess.check_output(["cat", "/proc/pressure/cpu", "/proc/pressure/io"], \
+                                   universal_newlines=True, stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL)
+            curr_cpu_pressure = curr_pressure_sample.split('\n')[0].split()[1].split("=")[1]
+            curr_io_pressure = curr_pressure_sample.split('\n')[2].split()[1].split("=")[1]
+
+            return float(curr_cpu_pressure) > self.rq.max_cpu_pressure or float(curr_io_pressure) > self.rq.max_io_pressure
+        return False
 
     def next_buildable_task(self):
         """
@@ -171,6 +192,8 @@ class RunQueueScheduler(object):
         buildable.intersection_update(self.rq.tasks_covered | self.rq.tasks_notcovered)
         if not buildable:
             return None
+        if self.exceeds_max_pressure():
+            return None
 
         # Filter out tasks that have a max number of threads that have been exceeded
         skip_buildable = {}
@@ -1699,6 +1722,8 @@ class RunQueueExecute:
 
         self.number_tasks = int(self.cfgData.getVar("BB_NUMBER_THREADS") or 1)
         self.scheduler = self.cfgData.getVar("BB_SCHEDULER") or "speed"
+        self.max_cpu_pressure = float(self.cfgData.getVar("BB_MAX_CPU_SOME_PRESSURE") or 100.0)
+        self.max_io_pressure = float(self.cfgData.getVar("BB_MAX_IO_SOME_PRESSURE") or 100.0)
 
         self.sq_buildable = set()
         self.sq_running = set()
@@ -1733,6 +1758,20 @@ class RunQueueExecute:
         if self.number_tasks <= 0:
              bb.fatal("Invalid BB_NUMBER_THREADS %s" % self.number_tasks)
 
+        lower_limit = 1.0
+        upper_limit = 100.0
+        if self.max_cpu_pressure < lower_limit:
+            bb.fatal("Invalid BB_MAX_CPU_SOME_PRESSURE %s, minimum value is %s" % (self.max_cpu_pressure, lower_limit))
+        if self.max_cpu_pressure > upper_limit:
+            bb.warn("Percentage value of BB_MAX_CPU_SOME_PRESSURE %s rounded down to %s" % (self.max_cpu_pressure, upper_limit))
+            self.max_cpu_pressure = upper_limit
+
+        if self.max_io_pressure < lower_limit:
+            bb.fatal("Invalid BB_MAX_IO_SOME_PRESSURE %s, minimum value is %s" % (self.max_io_pressure, lower_limit))
+        if self.max_io_pressure > upper_limit:
+            bb.warn("Percentage value of BB_MAX_IO_SOME_PRESSURE %s rounded down to %s" % (self.max_io_pressure, upper_limit))
+            self.max_io_pressure = upper_limit
+
         # List of setscene tasks which we've covered
         self.scenequeue_covered = set()
         # List of tasks which are covered (including setscene ones)