diff --git a/src/network/bridge_driver.c b/src/network/bridge_driver.c
index 777024fbbb..24d545e2f9 100644
--- a/src/network/bridge_driver.c
+++ b/src/network/bridge_driver.c
@@ -2300,7 +2300,8 @@ networkCheckRouteCollision(virNetworkObjPtr network)
 {
     int ret = 0, len;
     char *cur, *buf = NULL;
-    enum {MAX_ROUTE_SIZE = 1024*64};
+    /* allow for up to 100000 routes (each line is 128 bytes) */
+    enum {MAX_ROUTE_SIZE = 128*100000};
 
     /* Read whole routing table into memory */
     if ((len = virFileReadAll(PROC_NET_ROUTE, MAX_ROUTE_SIZE, &buf)) < 0)