diff --git a/monitorix b/monitorix
index 63106ec..6434e5b 100755
--- a/monitorix
+++ b/monitorix
@@ -477,6 +477,10 @@ if(!$config{global_zoom}) {
 	logger("WARNING: the 'global_zoom' option is not valid or doesn't exist. Please consider upgrading your configuration file.");
 	$config{global_zoom} = 1;
 }
+if(!$config{max_historic_years} || $config{max_historic_years} > 5) {
+	logger("WARNING: the 'max_historic_years' option is not valid or doesn't exist. Please consider upgrading your configuration file.");
+	$config{max_historic_years} = 1;
+}
 
 logger("Ok, done.") unless !$options{d};
 
diff --git a/monitorix.conf b/monitorix.conf
index 3c7e587..557705a 100644
--- a/monitorix.conf
+++ b/monitorix.conf
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ disable_javascript_void = n
 temperature_scale = c
 show_gaps = n
 global_zoom = 1
+max_historic_years = 1
 
 base_dir = /usr/share/monitorix/
 base_lib = /var/lib/monitorix/