diff --git a/docs/changelog.md b/docs/changelog.md
index 985f2b64..924f3f29 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/changelog.md
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ Requires libvips v8.12.0
   [#2976](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/pull/2976)
   [@driannaude](https://github.com/driannaude)
 
+* Expose `unlimited` option for SVG and PNG input, switches off safety features.
+  [#2984](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/issues/2984)
+
 ## v0.29 - *circle*
 
 Requires libvips v8.11.3
diff --git a/lib/constructor.js b/lib/constructor.js
index 210ea4a2..6e726624 100644
--- a/lib/constructor.js
+++ b/lib/constructor.js
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ const debuglog = util.debuglog('sharp');
  * @param {number|boolean} [options.limitInputPixels=268402689] - Do not process input images where the number of pixels
  *  (width x height) exceeds this limit. Assumes image dimensions contained in the input metadata can be trusted.
  *  An integral Number of pixels, zero or false to remove limit, true to use default limit of 268402689 (0x3FFF x 0x3FFF).
+ * @param {boolean} [options.unlimited=false] - Set this to `true` to remove safety features that help prevent memory exhaustion (SVG, PNG).
  * @param {boolean} [options.sequentialRead=false] - Set this to `true` to use sequential rather than random access where possible.
  *  This can reduce memory usage and might improve performance on some systems.
  * @param {number} [options.density=72] - number representing the DPI for vector images in the range 1 to 100000.
diff --git a/lib/input.js b/lib/input.js
index 5dd2f0e9..177f07fc 100644
--- a/lib/input.js
+++ b/lib/input.js
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ const sharp = require('./sharp');
  * @private
  */
 function _inputOptionsFromObject (obj) {
-  const { raw, density, limitInputPixels, sequentialRead, failOnError, animated, page, pages, subifd } = obj;
-  return [raw, density, limitInputPixels, sequentialRead, failOnError, animated, page, pages, subifd].some(is.defined)
-    ? { raw, density, limitInputPixels, sequentialRead, failOnError, animated, page, pages, subifd }
+  const { raw, density, limitInputPixels, unlimited, sequentialRead, failOnError, animated, page, pages, subifd } = obj;
+  return [raw, density, limitInputPixels, unlimited, sequentialRead, failOnError, animated, page, pages, subifd].some(is.defined)
+    ? { raw, density, limitInputPixels, unlimited, sequentialRead, failOnError, animated, page, pages, subifd }
     : undefined;
 }
 
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ function _createInputDescriptor (input, inputOptions, containerOptions) {
   const inputDescriptor = {
     failOnError: true,
     limitInputPixels: Math.pow(0x3FFF, 2),
+    unlimited: false,
     sequentialRead: false
   };
   if (is.string(input)) {
@@ -83,6 +84,14 @@ function _createInputDescriptor (input, inputOptions, containerOptions) {
         throw is.invalidParameterError('limitInputPixels', 'integer >= 0', inputOptions.limitInputPixels);
       }
     }
+    // unlimited
+    if (is.defined(inputOptions.unlimited)) {
+      if (is.bool(inputOptions.unlimited)) {
+        inputDescriptor.unlimited = inputOptions.unlimited;
+      } else {
+        throw is.invalidParameterError('unlimited', 'boolean', inputOptions.unlimited);
+      }
+    }
     // sequentialRead
     if (is.defined(inputOptions.sequentialRead)) {
       if (is.bool(inputOptions.sequentialRead)) {
diff --git a/src/common.cc b/src/common.cc
index 5608598f..b8d66ac1 100644
--- a/src/common.cc
+++ b/src/common.cc
@@ -132,6 +132,8 @@ namespace sharp {
     descriptor->limitInputPixels = AttrAsUint32(input, "limitInputPixels");
     // Allow switch from random to sequential access
     descriptor->access = AttrAsBool(input, "sequentialRead") ? VIPS_ACCESS_SEQUENTIAL : VIPS_ACCESS_RANDOM;
+    // Remove safety features and allow unlimited SVG/PNG input
+    descriptor->unlimited = AttrAsBool(input, "unlimited");
     return descriptor;
   }
 
@@ -328,7 +330,7 @@ namespace sharp {
             vips::VOption *option = VImage::option()
               ->set("access", descriptor->access)
               ->set("fail", descriptor->failOnError);
-            if (imageType == ImageType::SVG) {
+            if (descriptor->unlimited && (imageType == ImageType::SVG || imageType == ImageType::PNG)) {
               option->set("unlimited", TRUE);
             }
             if (imageType == ImageType::SVG || imageType == ImageType::PDF) {
@@ -403,7 +405,7 @@ namespace sharp {
             vips::VOption *option = VImage::option()
               ->set("access", descriptor->access)
               ->set("fail", descriptor->failOnError);
-            if (imageType == ImageType::SVG) {
+            if (descriptor->unlimited && (imageType == ImageType::SVG || imageType == ImageType::PNG)) {
               option->set("unlimited", TRUE);
             }
             if (imageType == ImageType::SVG || imageType == ImageType::PDF) {
diff --git a/src/common.h b/src/common.h
index e4dd244a..cc0bd8af 100644
--- a/src/common.h
+++ b/src/common.h
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ namespace sharp {
     char *buffer;
     bool failOnError;
     int limitInputPixels;
+    bool unlimited;
     VipsAccess access;
     size_t bufferLength;
     bool isBuffer;
@@ -75,6 +76,7 @@ namespace sharp {
       buffer(nullptr),
       failOnError(TRUE),
       limitInputPixels(0x3FFF * 0x3FFF),
+      unlimited(FALSE),
       access(VIPS_ACCESS_RANDOM),
       bufferLength(0),
       isBuffer(FALSE),
diff --git a/test/unit/io.js b/test/unit/io.js
index 628e2f89..e0266316 100644
--- a/test/unit/io.js
+++ b/test/unit/io.js
@@ -648,6 +648,19 @@ describe('Input/output', function () {
       });
   });
 
+  describe('Switch off safety limits for PNG/SVG input', () => {
+    it('Valid', () => {
+      assert.doesNotThrow(() => {
+        sharp({ unlimited: true });
+      });
+    });
+    it('Invalid', () => {
+      assert.throws(() => {
+        sharp({ unlimited: -1 });
+      }, /Expected boolean for unlimited but received -1 of type number/);
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('Limit pixel count of input image', () => {
     it('Invalid fails - negative', () => {
       assert.throws(() => {
@@ -671,7 +684,9 @@ describe('Input/output', function () {
       sharp(fixtures.inputJpg)
         .metadata()
         .then(({ width, height }) =>
-          sharp(fixtures.inputJpg, { limitInputPixels: width * height }).toBuffer()
+          sharp(fixtures.inputJpg, { limitInputPixels: width * height })
+            .resize(2)
+            .toBuffer()
         )
     );