diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index af80363..4dc5910 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -65,25 +65,27 @@ ansible-galaxy install do1jlr.restic
 
 ## Role Variables
 
-| Name                   | Default                             | Description                                                                 |
-| ---------------------- | ----------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| `restic_url`           | `undefined`                         | The URL to download restic from. Use this variable to overwrite the default |
-| `restic_version`       | `'0.15.1'`                          | The version of Restic to install                                            |
-| `restic_download_path` | `'/opt/restic'`                     | Download location for the restic binary                                     |
-| `restic_install_path`  | `'/usr/local/bin'`                  | Install location for the restic binary                                      |
-| `restic_script_dir`    | `'/opt/restic'`                        | Location of the generated backup scripts                                 |
-| `restic_log_dir`       | `'{{ restic_script_dir }}/log'`     | Location of the logs of the backup scripts                                  |
-| `restic_repos`         | `{}`                                | A dictionary of repositories where snapshots are stored. *(More Info: [Repos](#Repos))* |
-| `restic_backups`       | `{}` (or `[]`)                      | A list of dictionaries specifying the files and directories to be backed up *(More Infos: [Backups](#Backups))* |
-|`restic_create_schedule`| `false`                             | Should we schedule each backup. Either via cronjob or via systemd timer.|
-| `restic_schedule_type` | `systemd`                           | Here you can define if we create a ``cronjob`` or a ``systemd`` timer. If it fails to create a systemd timer, a cronjob will be created. |
-| `restic_dir_owner`     | `'{{ansible_user}}'`                | The owner of all created dirs                                               |
-| `restic_dir_group`     | `'{{ansible_user}}'`                | The group of all created dirs                                               |
-| `restic_no_log`        | `true`                              | set to false to see hidden ansible logs                                     |
-| `restic_do_not_cleanup_cron ` | `false`                      | we changed the cron location and clean up the old one. You can skip the cleanup here |
-| `restic__cache_config` | `false`                             | configure custom cache directory                                            |
-| `restic__cache_dir`    | `'~/.cache/restic'`                 | define custom cache directory                                               |
-|`submodules_versioncheck`| `false`                            | if you set this variable to true, the role will run a [simple versionscheck](tasks/versioncheck.yml) to prevent running older versions of this role. |
+| Name                      | Default                             | Description                                                                 |
+| ----------------------    | ----------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `restic_url`              | `undefined`                         | The URL to download restic from. Use this variable to overwrite the default |
+| `restic_version`          | `'0.15.1'`                          | The version of Restic to install                                            |
+| `restic_download_path`    | `'/opt/restic'`                     | Download location for the restic binary                                     |
+| `restic_install_path`     | `'/usr/local/bin'`                  | Install location for the restic binary                                      |
+| `restic_script_dir`       | `'/opt/restic'`                     | Location of the generated backup scripts                                    |
+| `restic_log_dir`          | `'{{ restic_script_dir }}/log'`     | Location of the logs of the backup scripts                                  |
+| `restic_repos`            | `{}`                                | A dictionary of repositories where snapshots are stored. *(More Info: [Repos](#Repos))* |
+| `restic_backups`          | `{}` (or `[]`)                      | A list of dictionaries specifying the files and directories to be backed up *(More Infos: [Backups](#Backups))* |
+|`restic_create_schedule`   | `false`                             | Should we schedule each backup? Either via cronjob or via systemd timer.    |
+| `restic_schedule_type`    | `systemd`                           | Here you can define if we create a ``cronjob`` or a ``systemd`` timer. If it fails to create a systemd timer, a cronjob will be created. |
+| `restic_dir_owner`        | `'{{ansible_user}}'`                | The owner of all created dirs                                               |
+| `restic_dir_group`        | `'{{ansible_user}}'`                | The group of all created dirs                                               |
+| `restic_no_log`           | `true`                              | Set to false to see hidden ansible logs                                     |
+| `restic_do_not_cleanup_cron ` | `false`                      | We changed the cron location and clean up the old one. You can skip the cleanup here |
+| `restic__cache_config`    | `false`                             | Configure custom cache directory                                            |
+| `restic__cache_dir`       | `'~/.cache/restic'`                 | Define custom cache directory                                               |
+|`submodules_versioncheck`  | `false`                             | If you set this variable to true, the role will run a [simple versionscheck](tasks/versioncheck.yml) to prevent running older versions of this role. |
+| `restic__limit_cpu_usage` |  `false`                            | Should CPU usage be limited?                                                |
+| `restic__max_cpus`        |  `1`                                | Maximum number of CPUs that can be used simultaneously                      |
 
 ### Repos
 Restic stores data in repositories. You have to specify at least one repository
diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index c4fbd2b..5e33c73 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -27,5 +27,9 @@ restic_do_not_cleanup_cron: false
 restic__cache_config: false
 restic__cache_dir: '~/.cache/restic'
 
+# limit maximum number of CPUs that can be used simultaneously
+restic__limit_cpu_usage: false
+restic__max_cpus: 1
+
 # outdated variables because of irritating names, but kept for compatibility
 restic_create_cron: false
diff --git a/templates/restic_script_Linux.j2 b/templates/restic_script_Linux.j2
index e38a11c..3fbf9bd 100644
--- a/templates/restic_script_Linux.j2
+++ b/templates/restic_script_Linux.j2
@@ -40,6 +40,11 @@ fi
   export XDG_CACHE_HOME={{ restic__cache_dir }}
 {% endif %}
 
+{% if restic__limit_cpu_usage | bool -%}
+# Maximum number of CPUs used by restic is limited to {{ restic__max_cpus }}
+export GOMAXPROCS={{ restic__max_cpus }}
+{% endif %}
+
 export RESTIC_REPOSITORY={{ restic_repos[item.repo].location }}
 export RESTIC_PASSWORD='{{ restic_repos[item.repo].password | regex_replace('\'', '\'\\\'\'') }}'
 BACKUP_NAME={{ item.name }}