diff --git a/src/JsonSchema/RefResolver.php b/src/JsonSchema/RefResolver.php
index 17b2c141..691314cf 100644
--- a/src/JsonSchema/RefResolver.php
+++ b/src/JsonSchema/RefResolver.php
@@ -28,6 +28,12 @@ class RefResolver
      */
     protected static $depth = 0;
 
+    /**
+     * maximum references depth
+     * @var integer
+     */
+    public static $maxDepth = 7;
+
     /**
      * @var UriRetrieverInterface
      */
@@ -88,7 +94,7 @@ public function getUriRetriever()
      */
     public function resolve($schema, $sourceUri = null)
     {
-        if (self::$depth > 7) {
+        if (self::$depth > self::$maxDepth) {
             return;
         }
         ++self::$depth;