diff --git a/bin/sh/eval.c b/bin/sh/eval.c
index 4f7559e1848..3fd3050111d 100644
--- a/bin/sh/eval.c
+++ b/bin/sh/eval.c
@@ -1250,8 +1250,16 @@ bltincmd(int argc, char **argv)
 int
 breakcmd(int argc, char **argv)
 {
-	int n = argc > 1 ? number(argv[1]) : 1;
+	long n;
+	char *end;
 
+	if (argc > 1) {
+		/* Allow arbitrarily large numbers. */
+		n = strtol(argv[1], &end, 10);
+		if (!is_digit(argv[1][0]) || *end != '\0')
+			error("Illegal number: %s", argv[1]);
+	} else
+		n = 1;
 	if (n > loopnest)
 		n = loopnest;
 	if (n > 0) {
diff --git a/bin/sh/tests/builtins/Makefile b/bin/sh/tests/builtins/Makefile
index bc2edd5dbe6..4c988dabf52 100644
--- a/bin/sh/tests/builtins/Makefile
+++ b/bin/sh/tests/builtins/Makefile
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ FILES+=		break2.0 break2.0.stdout
 FILES+=		break3.0
 FILES+=		break4.4
 FILES+=		break5.4
+FILES+=		break6.0
 FILES+=		builtin1.0
 FILES+=		case1.0
 FILES+=		case2.0
diff --git a/bin/sh/tests/builtins/break6.0 b/bin/sh/tests/builtins/break6.0
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..09fc0d85eaa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/sh/tests/builtins/break6.0
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# $FreeBSD$
+# Per POSIX, this need only work if LONG_MAX > 4294967295.
+
+while :; do
+	break 4294967296
+	echo bad
+	exit 3
+done