diff --git a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/common/INetlistProcessor.java b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/common/INetlistProcessor.java
index fb1c5a4d..3f539d0c 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/common/INetlistProcessor.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/common/INetlistProcessor.java
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ package org.diylc.common;
 import java.util.List;
 import org.diylc.netlist.INetlistParser;
 import org.diylc.netlist.Netlist;
+import org.diylc.netlist.NetlistException;
 
 /**
  * Interface for {@link Netlist} related operations.
@@ -37,8 +38,9 @@ public interface INetlistProcessor {
    * 
    * @param includeSwitches
    * @return
+   * @throws NetlistException 
    */
-  List<Netlist> extractNetlists(boolean includeSwitches);
+  List<Netlist> extractNetlists(boolean includeSwitches) throws NetlistException;
   
   /**
    * Finds all available {@link INetlistAnalyzer} implementations.
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/netlist/NetlistException.java b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/netlist/NetlistException.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..60082357
--- /dev/null
+++ b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/netlist/NetlistException.java
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/*
+
+    DIY Layout Creator (DIYLC).
+    Copyright (c) 2009-2018 held jointly by the individual authors.
+
+    This file is part of DIYLC.
+
+    DIYLC is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+    it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+    the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+    (at your option) any later version.
+
+    DIYLC is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+    GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+    along with DIYLC.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+*/
+package org.diylc.netlist;
+
+public class NetlistException extends Exception {
+
+  private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+
+  public NetlistException() {
+    super();
+    // TODO Auto-generated constructor stub
+  }
+
+  public NetlistException(String message, Throwable cause, boolean enableSuppression,
+      boolean writableStackTrace) {
+    super(message, cause, enableSuppression, writableStackTrace);
+    // TODO Auto-generated constructor stub
+  }
+
+  public NetlistException(String message, Throwable cause) {
+    super(message, cause);
+    // TODO Auto-generated constructor stub
+  }
+
+  public NetlistException(String message) {
+    super(message);
+    // TODO Auto-generated constructor stub
+  }
+
+  public NetlistException(Throwable cause) {
+    super(cause);
+    // TODO Auto-generated constructor stub
+  }
+
+  
+}
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/Presenter.java b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/Presenter.java
index fab81d1e..120cb675 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/Presenter.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/presenter/Presenter.java
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ import org.diylc.netlist.INetlistParser;
 import org.diylc.netlist.Netlist;
 import org.diylc.netlist.NetlistAnalyzer;
 import org.diylc.netlist.NetlistBuilder;
+import org.diylc.netlist.NetlistException;
 import org.diylc.netlist.Node;
 import org.diylc.netlist.Position;
 import org.diylc.netlist.SwitchSetup;
@@ -167,7 +168,8 @@ public class Presenter implements IPlugInPort {
 
   public static final int ICON_SIZE = 32;
 
-  private static final int MAX_RECENT_FILES = 20;  
+  private static final int MAX_RECENT_FILES = 20;
+  private static final int MAX_SWITCH_COMBINATIONS = 64;  
 
   private Project currentProject;
   private Map<String, List<ComponentType>> componentTypes;
@@ -2092,7 +2094,13 @@ public class Presenter implements IPlugInPort {
     // experimental mode using netlist to expand selection. Works fine but doesn't include any connectivity components 
     // like traces and wires, so it's not ideal
     if (useNetlistForExpandSelection) {
-      List<Netlist> netlists = extractNetlists(false);
+      List<Netlist> netlists = null;
+      try {
+        netlists = extractNetlists(false);
+      } catch (NetlistException e1) {
+        // should never happen
+        LOG.warn("Unexpected netlist exception", e1);
+      }
       
       if (netlists == null)
         return;
@@ -3136,7 +3144,7 @@ public class Presenter implements IPlugInPort {
 
   @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
   @Override
-  public List<Netlist> extractNetlists(boolean includeSwitches) {
+  public List<Netlist> extractNetlists(boolean includeSwitches) throws NetlistException {
     Map<Netlist, Netlist> result = new HashMap<Netlist, Netlist>();
     List<Node> nodes = new ArrayList<Node>();
 
@@ -3194,6 +3202,15 @@ public class Presenter implements IPlugInPort {
     List<Area> continuityAreas = drawingManager.getContinuityAreas(currentProject);
 
     int i = switches.size() - 1;
+    
+    int totalSwitchCombinations = switches.stream()
+        .map(sw -> sw.getPositionCount())
+        .reduce(1, (a, b) -> a * b);
+    
+    if (totalSwitchCombinations > MAX_SWITCH_COMBINATIONS) {
+      throw new NetlistException("Maximum number of switching combinations exceeded. Allowed: " + MAX_SWITCH_COMBINATIONS + ", actual: " + totalSwitchCombinations);
+    }
+    
     while (i >= 0) {
       // process the current combination
       Map<ISwitch, Integer> switchPositions = new HashMap<ISwitch, Integer>();