diff --git a/docs/man/xl.1.pod.in b/docs/man/xl.1.pod.in
index ed3f4dee1e..b13e09c0ee 100644
--- a/docs/man/xl.1.pod.in
+++ b/docs/man/xl.1.pod.in
@@ -496,6 +496,10 @@ such that it will be identical on the destination host, unless that
 configuration is overridden using the B<-C> option. Note that it is not
 possible to use this option for a 'localhost' migration.
 
+=item B<--max_iters> I<iterations>
+
+Number of copy iterations before final suspend+move (default: 5)
+
 =back
 
 =item B<remus> [I<OPTIONS>] I<domain-id> I<host>
diff --git a/tools/include/libxl.h b/tools/include/libxl.h
index 9a4d7514ed..bf77da0524 100644
--- a/tools/include/libxl.h
+++ b/tools/include/libxl.h
@@ -1714,6 +1714,7 @@ static inline int libxl_retrieve_domain_configuration_0x041200(
 
 typedef struct {
     uint32_t flags; /* LIBXL_SUSPEND_* */
+    uint32_t max_iters;
 } libxl_domain_suspend_props;
 #define LIBXL_SUSPEND_DEBUG 1
 #define LIBXL_SUSPEND_LIVE 2
diff --git a/tools/libs/light/libxl_dom_save.c b/tools/libs/light/libxl_dom_save.c
index 3f3cff0342..938c0127f3 100644
--- a/tools/libs/light/libxl_dom_save.c
+++ b/tools/libs/light/libxl_dom_save.c
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ static int libxl__domain_save_precopy_policy(precopy_stats_t stats, void *user)
          stats.iteration, stats.dirty_count, stats.total_written);
     if (stats.dirty_count >= 0 && stats.dirty_count < LIBXL_XGS_POLICY_TARGET_DIRTY_COUNT)
         goto stop_copy;
-    if (stats.iteration >= LIBXL_XGS_POLICY_MAX_ITERATIONS)
+    if (stats.iteration >= dss->max_iters)
         goto stop_copy;
     return XGS_POLICY_CONTINUE_PRECOPY;
 
diff --git a/tools/libs/light/libxl_domain.c b/tools/libs/light/libxl_domain.c
index 45e0c57c3a..612d3dc4ea 100644
--- a/tools/libs/light/libxl_domain.c
+++ b/tools/libs/light/libxl_domain.c
@@ -527,6 +527,7 @@ int libxl_domain_suspend(libxl_ctx *ctx, uint32_t domid, int fd,
     dss->domid = domid;
     dss->fd = fd;
     dss->type = type;
+    dss->max_iters = props->max_iters ?: LIBXL_XGS_POLICY_MAX_ITERATIONS;
     dss->live = props->flags & LIBXL_SUSPEND_LIVE;
     dss->debug = props->flags & LIBXL_SUSPEND_DEBUG;
     dss->checkpointed_stream = LIBXL_CHECKPOINTED_STREAM_NONE;
diff --git a/tools/libs/light/libxl_internal.h b/tools/libs/light/libxl_internal.h
index 069c35452d..82b9dca5a0 100644
--- a/tools/libs/light/libxl_internal.h
+++ b/tools/libs/light/libxl_internal.h
@@ -3641,6 +3641,7 @@ struct libxl__domain_save_state {
     int live;
     int debug;
     int checkpointed_stream;
+    uint32_t max_iters;
     const libxl_domain_remus_info *remus;
     /* private */
     int rc;
diff --git a/tools/xl/xl_cmdtable.c b/tools/xl/xl_cmdtable.c
index 6fd18856c0..8f8fa72760 100644
--- a/tools/xl/xl_cmdtable.c
+++ b/tools/xl/xl_cmdtable.c
@@ -174,7 +174,8 @@ const struct cmd_spec cmd_table[] = {
       "                of the domain.\n"
       "--debug         Verify transferred domU page data.\n"
       "-p              Do not unpause domain after migrating it.\n"
-      "-D              Preserve the domain id"
+      "-D              Preserve the domain id\n"
+      "--max_iters N   Number of copy iterations before final stop+move"
     },
     { "restore",
       &main_restore, 0, 1,
diff --git a/tools/xl/xl_migrate.c b/tools/xl/xl_migrate.c
index 144890924f..af117d4d56 100644
--- a/tools/xl/xl_migrate.c
+++ b/tools/xl/xl_migrate.c
@@ -178,6 +178,7 @@ static void migrate_do_preamble(int send_fd, int recv_fd, pid_t child,
 
 static void migrate_domain(uint32_t domid, int preserve_domid,
                            const char *rune, int debug,
+                           uint32_t max_iters,
                            const char *override_config_file)
 {
     pid_t child = -1;
@@ -189,6 +190,7 @@ static void migrate_domain(uint32_t domid, int preserve_domid,
     int config_len;
     libxl_domain_suspend_props props = {
         .flags = LIBXL_SUSPEND_LIVE,
+        .max_iters = max_iters,
         };
 
     save_domain_core_begin(domid, preserve_domid, override_config_file,
@@ -542,8 +544,10 @@ int main_migrate(int argc, char **argv)
     char *host;
     int opt, daemonize = 1, monitor = 1, debug = 0, pause_after_migration = 0;
     int preserve_domid = 0;
+    uint32_t max_iters = 0;
     static struct option opts[] = {
         {"debug", 0, 0, 0x100},
+        {"max_iters", 1, 0, 0x101},
         {"live", 0, 0, 0x200},
         COMMON_LONG_OPTS
     };
@@ -571,6 +575,9 @@ int main_migrate(int argc, char **argv)
     case 0x100: /* --debug */
         debug = 1;
         break;
+    case 0x101: /* --max_iters */
+        max_iters = atoi(optarg);
+        break;
     case 0x200: /* --live */
         /* ignored for compatibility with xm */
         break;
@@ -605,7 +612,8 @@ int main_migrate(int argc, char **argv)
                   pause_after_migration ? " -p" : "");
     }
 
-    migrate_domain(domid, preserve_domid, rune, debug, config_filename);
+    migrate_domain(domid, preserve_domid, rune, debug,
+                   max_iters, config_filename);
     return EXIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 
