diff --git a/node_reference/node_reference.module b/node_reference/node_reference.module
index 1752cd7..0914918 100644
--- a/node_reference/node_reference.module
+++ b/node_reference/node_reference.module
@@ -821,7 +821,7 @@ function node_reference_autocomplete($entity_type, $bundle, $field_name, $string
   $options = array(
     'string' => $string,
     'match' => $instance['widget']['settings']['autocomplete_match'],
-    'limit' => 10,
+    'limit' => variable_get('node_reference_autocomplete_limit', 10),
   );
   $references = node_reference_potential_references($field, $options);
 
diff --git a/user_reference/user_reference.module b/user_reference/user_reference.module
index 52777ce..3e0f8c6 100644
--- a/user_reference/user_reference.module
+++ b/user_reference/user_reference.module
@@ -658,7 +658,7 @@ function user_reference_autocomplete($entity_type, $bundle, $field_name, $string
   $options = array(
     'string' => $string,
     'match' => $instance['widget']['settings']['autocomplete_match'],
-    'limit' => 10,
+    'limit' => variable_get('user_reference_autocomplete_limit', 10),
   );
   $references = user_reference_potential_references($field, $options);