diff --git a/benches/future_children.rs b/benches/future_children.rs
index 2d51883..02e3bf1 100644
--- a/benches/future_children.rs
+++ b/benches/future_children.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ fn extend_layers_test(depth: usize) {
         start_pruning_at_minus: 4,
         top_k_children: 2,
         up_to_mod: 4,
+        max_arena_size: 10_000_000,
     };
     let mut fut = FutureMoves::new(Piece::Black, config);
     fut.set_root_from_board(Board::new().starting_pos());
diff --git a/src/complexagent.rs b/src/complexagent.rs
index 8b123ab..d8bfed8 100644
--- a/src/complexagent.rs
+++ b/src/complexagent.rs
@@ -13,10 +13,11 @@ pub struct ComplexAgent {
 impl ComplexAgent {
     pub const fn new(color: Piece) -> Self {
         const CONFIG: FutureMoveConfig = FutureMoveConfig {
-            max_depth: 7,
+            max_depth: 9,
             start_pruning_at_minus: 4,
             top_k_children: 2,
             up_to_mod: 4,
+            max_arena_size: 100_000_000,
         };
         Self {
             color,
diff --git a/src/logic/future_moves.rs b/src/logic/future_moves.rs
index 7718f7c..a41f5a6 100644
--- a/src/logic/future_moves.rs
+++ b/src/logic/future_moves.rs
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@ pub struct FutureMoveConfig {
     // the lower the value, the more conservative the pruning is, what level to stop pruning at?
     // a lower value allows more possible paths
     pub up_to_mod: usize,
+
+    /// Max size of the arena, will not generate more if
+    /// the arena is of that size or bigger
+    pub max_arena_size: usize,
 }
 
 impl FutureMoves {
@@ -58,6 +62,11 @@ impl FutureMoves {
     /// only `pub` for the sake of benchmarking
     pub fn extend_layers(&mut self) {
         for i in (self.current_depth + 1)..=self.config.max_depth {
+            if self.arena_len() >= self.config.max_arena_size {
+                dbg!("extend_layers: early break ({})", self.arena_len());
+                break;
+            }
+
             (0..self.arena.len())
                 // we want to select all nodes that don't have children, or are lazy (need to maybe be regenerated)
                 .filter(|&idx| {
@@ -81,11 +90,6 @@ impl FutureMoves {
             self.prune_bad_children();
             self.current_depth += 1;
         }
-        assert_eq!(
-            self.current_depth, self.config.max_depth,
-            "iteration and extention did not extend current_depth ({}) to the max_depth ({})",
-            self.current_depth, self.config.max_depth
-        );
     }
 
     /// Determines if a [`Move`] at index `idx` is connected to `self.current_root`