diff --git a/MicroDexed.ino b/MicroDexed.ino
index 7a1b88a..a395c83 100644
--- a/MicroDexed.ino
+++ b/MicroDexed.ino
@@ -600,10 +600,22 @@ void loop()
       eeprom_update();
     }
 
-    // check for value changes and unused voices
+    // check for value changes, unused voices and CPU overload
     for (uint8_t instance_id = 0; instance_id < NUM_DEXED; instance_id++)
     {
       active_voices[instance_id] = MicroDexed[instance_id]->getNumNotesPlaying();
+#ifdef CPU_OVERLOAD_THROTTLE
+      if (AudioProcessorUsageMax() > 99.9)
+      {
+        AudioProcessorUsageMaxReset();
+        MicroDexed[instance_id]->keyup(-1); // kills the oldest note and decreases max_notes
+        Serial.print(F("!!!CPU overload!!! Automatic throttling max_notes to "));
+        Serial.print(MicroDexed[instance_id]->getMaxNotes(), DEC);
+        Serial.print(F(" for instance "));
+        Serial.print(instance_id, DEC);
+        Serial.println(F("."));
+      }
+#endif
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/config.h b/config.h
index c6b2a43..d8925c0 100644
--- a/config.h
+++ b/config.h
@@ -212,6 +212,7 @@
 #define NUM_DEXED 1
 #define MAX_DEXED 2
 #define NORMALIZE_DX_VELOCITY 1
+#define CPU_OVERLOAD_THROTTLE 1
 
 enum { DEXED, CHORUS, DELAY, REVERB};
 
diff --git a/dexed.cpp b/dexed.cpp
index a7e371a..ec2f30d 100644
--- a/dexed.cpp
+++ b/dexed.cpp
@@ -251,10 +251,23 @@ void Dexed::keyup(int16_t pitch) {
   pitch += data[144] - TRANSPOSE_FIX;
 
   uint8_t note;
-  for (note = 0; note < max_notes; note++) {
-    if ( voices[note].midi_note == pitch && voices[note].keydown ) {
-      voices[note].keydown = false;
-      break;
+  if (pitch < 0) // for disabling the oldest note when cpu overload is detected
+  {
+    note = abs((currentNote + 1) % max_notes);
+    voices[note].keydown = false;
+    if (max_notes == note)
+      currentNote = 0;
+    else
+      currentNote = note;
+    max_notes--;
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    for (note = 0; note < max_notes; note++) {
+      if ( voices[note].midi_note == pitch && voices[note].keydown ) {
+        voices[note].keydown = false;
+        break;
+      }
     }
   }