diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d43ef98f..949277b8 100755
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -288,18 +288,30 @@ A Promises/A+ promise is returned when `callback` is not provided.
 
 ### Utility methods
 
-#### sharp.cache([limit])
+#### sharp.cache([memory], [items])
 
-If `limit` is provided, set the (soft) limit of _libvips_ working/cache memory to this value in MB. The default value is 100.
+If `memory` or `items` are provided, set the limits of _libvips'_ operation cache.
+
+* `memory` is the maximum memory in MB to use for this cache, with a default value of 100
+* `items` is the maximum number of operations to cache, with a default value of 500
 
 This method always returns cache statistics, useful for determining how much working memory is required for a particular task.
 
-Warnings such as _Application transferred too many scanlines_ are a good indicator you've set this value too low.
+```javascript
+var stats = sharp.cache(); // { current: 75, high: 99, memory: 100, items: 500 }
+sharp.cache(200); // { current: 75, high: 99, memory: 200, items: 500 }
+sharp.cache(50, 200); // { current: 49, high: 99, memory: 50, items: 200}
+```
+
+#### sharp.counters()
+
+Provides access to internal task counters.
+
+* `queue` is the number of tasks queuing for _libuv_ to provide a thread from its pool
+* `process` is the number of tasks being processed
 
 ```javascript
-var stats = sharp.cache(); // { current: 98, high: 115, limit: 100, queue: 0 }
-sharp.cache(200); // { current: 98, high: 115, limit: 200, queue: 0 }
-sharp.cache(50); // { current: 49, high: 115, limit: 50, queue: 0 }
+var counters = sharp.counters(); // { queue: 2, process: 4 }
 ```
 
 ## Testing
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index c60ca98c..a7766ded 100755
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -335,9 +335,22 @@ Sharp.prototype._sharp = function(callback) {
   }
 };
 
-module.exports.cache = function(limit) {
-  if (Number.isNaN(limit)) {
-    limit = null;
+/*
+  Get and set cache memory and item limits
+*/
+module.exports.cache = function(memory, items) {
+  if (Number.isNaN(memory)) {
+    memory = null;
   }
-  return sharp.cache(limit);
+  if (Number.isNaN(items)) {
+    items = null;
+  }
+  return sharp.cache(memory, items);
+};
+
+/*
+  Get internal counters
+*/
+module.exports.counters = function() {
+  return sharp.counters();
 };
diff --git a/src/sharp.cc b/src/sharp.cc
index f274007a..1c73cca5 100755
--- a/src/sharp.cc
+++ b/src/sharp.cc
@@ -55,7 +55,9 @@ unsigned char const MARKER_PNG[] = {0x89, 0x50};
 unsigned char const MARKER_WEBP[] = {0x52, 0x49};
 
 // How many tasks are in the queue?
-volatile int queue_length = 0;
+volatile int counter_queue = 0;
+// How many tasks are being processed?
+volatile int counter_process = 0;
 
 static bool ends_with(std::string const &str, std::string const &end) {
   return str.length() >= end.length() && 0 == str.compare(str.length() - end.length(), end.length(), end);
@@ -124,6 +126,11 @@ class ResizeWorker : public NanAsyncWorker {
   ~ResizeWorker() {}
 
   void Execute () {
+    // Decrement queued task counter
+    g_atomic_int_dec_and_test(&counter_queue);
+    // Increment processing task counter
+    g_atomic_int_inc(&counter_process);
+
     // Input
     ImageType inputImageType = JPEG;
     VipsImage *in = vips_image_new();
@@ -455,9 +462,12 @@ class ResizeWorker : public NanAsyncWorker {
       }
     }
     delete baton;
+
+    // Decrement processing task counter
+    g_atomic_int_dec_and_test(&counter_process);
+
+    // Return to JavaScript
     callback->Call(3, argv);
-    // Decrement queue length
-    g_atomic_int_dec_and_test(&queue_length);
   }
 
  private:
@@ -512,29 +522,48 @@ NAN_METHOD(resize) {
   NanCallback *callback = new NanCallback(args[1].As<v8::Function>());
   NanAsyncQueueWorker(new ResizeWorker(callback, baton));
 
-  // Increment queue length
-  g_atomic_int_inc(&queue_length);
+  // Increment queued task counter
+  g_atomic_int_inc(&counter_queue);
 
   NanReturnUndefined();
 }
 
+/*
+  Get and set cache memory and item limits
+*/
 NAN_METHOD(cache) {
   NanScope();
 
-  // Set cache limit
+  // Set cache memory limit
   if (args[0]->IsInt32()) {
     vips_cache_set_max_mem(args[0]->Int32Value() * 1048576);
   }
 
+  // Set cache items limit
+  if (args[1]->IsInt32()) {
+    vips_cache_set_max(args[1]->Int32Value());
+  }
+
   // Get cache statistics
   Local<Object> cache = NanNew<Object>();
   cache->Set(NanNew<String>("current"), NanNew<Number>(vips_tracked_get_mem() / 1048576));
   cache->Set(NanNew<String>("high"), NanNew<Number>(vips_tracked_get_mem_highwater() / 1048576));
-  cache->Set(NanNew<String>("limit"), NanNew<Number>(vips_cache_get_max_mem() / 1048576));
-  cache->Set(NanNew<String>("queue"), NanNew<Number>(queue_length));
+  cache->Set(NanNew<String>("memory"), NanNew<Number>(vips_cache_get_max_mem() / 1048576));
+  cache->Set(NanNew<String>("items"), NanNew<Number>(vips_cache_get_max()));
   NanReturnValue(cache);
 }
 
+/*
+  Get internal counters (queued tasks, processing tasks)
+*/
+NAN_METHOD(counters) {
+  NanScope();
+  Local<Object> counters = NanNew<Object>();
+  counters->Set(NanNew<String>("queue"), NanNew<Number>(counter_queue));
+  counters->Set(NanNew<String>("process"), NanNew<Number>(counter_process));
+  NanReturnValue(counters);
+}
+
 static void at_exit(void* arg) {
   NanScope();
   vips_shutdown();
@@ -544,8 +573,13 @@ extern "C" void init(Handle<Object> target) {
   NanScope();
   vips_init("");
   AtExit(at_exit);
+  // Set libvips operation cache limits
+  vips_cache_set_max_mem(100 * 1048576); // 100 MB
+  vips_cache_set_max(500); // 500 operations
+  // Methods available to JavaScript
   NODE_SET_METHOD(target, "resize", resize);
   NODE_SET_METHOD(target, "cache", cache);
+  NODE_SET_METHOD(target, "counters", counters);
 }
 
 NODE_MODULE(sharp, init)
diff --git a/tests/unit.js b/tests/unit.js
index 7bd99cbe..9ec7e2dd 100755
--- a/tests/unit.js
+++ b/tests/unit.js
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ var outputTiff = path.join(fixturesPath, "output.tiff");
 
 var inputJpgWithExif = path.join(fixturesPath, "Landscape_8.jpg"); // https://github.com/recurser/exif-orientation-examples/blob/master/Landscape_8.jpg
 
+// Ensure cache limits can be set
+sharp.cache(0); // Disable
+sharp.cache(50, 500); // 50MB, 500 items
+
 async.series([
   // Resize with exact crop
   function(done) {
@@ -339,5 +343,12 @@ async.series([
     });
     var pipeline = sharp().resize(320, 240);
     readable.pipe(pipeline).pipe(writable)
+  },
+  // Verify internal counters
+  function(done) {
+    var counters = sharp.counters();
+    assert.strictEqual(0, counters.queue);
+    assert.strictEqual(0, counters.process);
+    done();
   }
 ]);