diff --git a/extern/storage-sealing/sealiface/config.go b/extern/storage-sealing/sealiface/config.go
index 36fa7edad..945565562 100644
--- a/extern/storage-sealing/sealiface/config.go
+++ b/extern/storage-sealing/sealiface/config.go
@@ -11,5 +11,8 @@ type Config struct {
 	// includes failed, 0 = no limit
 	MaxSealingSectors uint64
 
+	// includes failed, 0 = no limit
+	MaxSealingSectorsForDeals uint64
+
 	WaitDealsDelay time.Duration
 }
diff --git a/extern/storage-sealing/sealing.go b/extern/storage-sealing/sealing.go
index d52f2d731..062ade2a3 100644
--- a/extern/storage-sealing/sealing.go
+++ b/extern/storage-sealing/sealing.go
@@ -270,8 +270,8 @@ func (m *Sealing) newDealSector() (abi.SectorNumber, error) {
 		return 0, xerrors.Errorf("getting config: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	if cfg.MaxSealingSectors > 0 {
-		if m.stats.curSealing() > cfg.MaxSealingSectors {
+	if cfg.MaxSealingSectorsForDeals > 0 {
+		if m.stats.curSealing() > cfg.MaxSealingSectorsForDeals {
 			return 0, xerrors.Errorf("too many sectors sealing")
 		}
 	}
@@ -280,6 +280,9 @@ func (m *Sealing) newDealSector() (abi.SectorNumber, error) {
 		// run in a loop because we have to drop the map lock here for a bit
 		tries := 0
 
+		// we have to run in a loop as we're dropping unsealedInfoMap.lk
+		//  to actually call StartPacking. When we do that, another entry can
+		//  get added to unsealedInfoMap.
 		for uint64(len(m.unsealedInfoMap.infos)) >= cfg.MaxWaitDealsSectors {
 			if tries > 10 {
 				// whatever...
diff --git a/node/config/def.go b/node/config/def.go
index f3b33f5aa..d10810998 100644
--- a/node/config/def.go
+++ b/node/config/def.go
@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@ type SealingConfig struct {
 	// includes failed, 0 = no limit
 	MaxSealingSectors uint64
 
+	// includes failed, 0 = no limit
+	MaxSealingSectorsForDeals uint64
+
 	WaitDealsDelay Duration
 }
 
@@ -141,9 +144,10 @@ func DefaultStorageMiner() *StorageMiner {
 		Common: defCommon(),
 
 		Sealing: SealingConfig{
-			MaxWaitDealsSectors: 2, // 64G with 32G sectors
-			MaxSealingSectors:   0,
-			WaitDealsDelay:      Duration(time.Hour),
+			MaxWaitDealsSectors:       2, // 64G with 32G sectors
+			MaxSealingSectors:         0,
+			MaxSealingSectorsForDeals: 0,
+			WaitDealsDelay:            Duration(time.Hour),
 		},
 
 		Storage: sectorstorage.SealerConfig{
diff --git a/node/modules/storageminer.go b/node/modules/storageminer.go
index 3be869f0f..ce2427f2c 100644
--- a/node/modules/storageminer.go
+++ b/node/modules/storageminer.go
@@ -611,9 +611,10 @@ func NewGetSealConfigFunc(r repo.LockedRepo) (dtypes.GetSealingConfigFunc, error
 	return func() (out sealiface.Config, err error) {
 		err = readCfg(r, func(cfg *config.StorageMiner) {
 			out = sealiface.Config{
-				MaxWaitDealsSectors: cfg.Sealing.MaxWaitDealsSectors,
-				MaxSealingSectors:   cfg.Sealing.MaxSealingSectors,
-				WaitDealsDelay:      time.Duration(cfg.Sealing.WaitDealsDelay),
+				MaxWaitDealsSectors:       cfg.Sealing.MaxWaitDealsSectors,
+				MaxSealingSectors:         cfg.Sealing.MaxSealingSectors,
+				MaxSealingSectorsForDeals: cfg.Sealing.MaxSealingSectorsForDeals,
+				WaitDealsDelay:            time.Duration(cfg.Sealing.WaitDealsDelay),
 			}
 		})
 		return