diff --git a/releaseBox.go b/releaseBox.go
index ab2bae7..5e25b8f 100644
--- a/releaseBox.go
+++ b/releaseBox.go
@@ -127,7 +127,10 @@ func createReleaseBox(box *gui.Node) {
 				break
 			}
 			count += 1
-			if count > 60 {
+			// never allow a loop longer than all the known repos
+			// this probably doesn't matter, but often this code is wrong
+			if count > me.forge.Repos.Len() {
+				// so this is a safety check. never remove this check.
 				break
 			}
 		}