diff --git a/buffered_file.c b/buffered_file.c
index f170aa0..daf3cf4 100644
--- a/buffered_file.c
+++ b/buffered_file.c
@@ -85,9 +85,10 @@ static void buffered_flush(QEMUFileBuffered *s)
 
     while (offset < s->buffer_size) {
         ssize_t ret;
+        size_t to_send = MIN(s->buffer_size - offset, s->xfer_limit - s->bytes_xfer);
 
         ret = s->put_buffer(s->opaque, s->buffer + offset,
-                            s->buffer_size - offset);
+                            to_send);
         if (ret == -EAGAIN) {
             DPRINTF("backend not ready, freezing\n");
             s->freeze_output = 1;