diff --git a/docs/configuration.rst b/docs/configuration.rst
index 244a9ba2..37179f67 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.rst
+++ b/docs/configuration.rst
@@ -111,13 +111,19 @@ extractor.*.skip
 =========== =====
 Type        ``bool`` or ``string``
 Default     ``true``
-Description Controls the behavior when downloading a file whose filename
+Description Controls the behavior when downloading files whose filename
             already exists.
 
-            * ``true``: Skip the download
-            * ``false``: Overwrite the already existing file
+            * ``true``: Skip downloads
+            * ``false``: Overwrite already existing files
+
             * ``"abort"``: Abort the current extractor run
+            * ``"abort:N"``: Skip downloads and abort extractor run
+              after ``N`` consecutive skips
+
             * ``"exit"``: Exit the program altogether
+            * ``"exit:N"``: Skip downloads and exit the program
+              after ``N`` consecutive skips
 =========== =====
 
 
diff --git a/gallery_dl/job.py b/gallery_dl/job.py
index 6017f47a..12f1e5c7 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/job.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/job.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import json
 import hashlib
 import logging
 from . import extractor, downloader, postprocessor
-from . import config, util, output, exception
+from . import config, text, util, output, exception
 from .extractor.message import Message
 
 
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ class DownloadJob(Job):
         self.pathfmt.set_keywords(keywords)
 
         if self.pathfmt.exists(self.archive):
-            self.out.skip(self.pathfmt.path)
+            self.handle_skip()
             return
 
         if self.sleep:
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ class DownloadJob(Job):
                 return
 
         if not self.pathfmt.temppath:
-            self.out.skip(self.pathfmt.path)
+            self.handle_skip()
             return
 
         # run post processors
@@ -217,6 +217,7 @@ class DownloadJob(Job):
         self.out.success(self.pathfmt.path, 0)
         if self.archive:
             self.archive.add(keywords)
+        self._skipcnt = 0
 
     def handle_urllist(self, urls, keywords):
         """Download the resource specified in 'url'"""
@@ -241,6 +242,13 @@ class DownloadJob(Job):
             for pp in self.postprocessors:
                 pp.finalize()
 
+    def handle_skip(self):
+        self.out.skip(self.pathfmt.path)
+        if self._skipexc:
+            self._skipcnt += 1
+            if self._skipcnt >= self._skipmax:
+                raise self._skipexc()
+
     def download(self, url):
         """Download 'url'"""
         scheme = url.partition(":")[0]
@@ -272,6 +280,20 @@ class DownloadJob(Job):
         self.pathfmt = util.PathFormat(self.extractor)
         self.sleep = self.extractor.config("sleep")
 
+        skip = self.extractor.config("skip", True)
+        if skip:
+            self._skipexc = None
+            if isinstance(skip, str):
+                skip, _, smax = skip.partition(":")
+                if skip == "abort":
+                    self._skipexc = exception.StopExtraction
+                elif skip == "exit":
+                    self._skipexc = sys.exit
+                self._skipcnt = 0
+                self._skipmax = text.parse_int(smax)
+        else:
+            self.pathfmt.exists = lambda x=None: False
+
         archive = self.extractor.config("archive")
         if archive:
             path = util.expand_path(archive)
diff --git a/gallery_dl/util.py b/gallery_dl/util.py
index 89934967..8185dbaa 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/util.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/util.py
@@ -452,17 +452,6 @@ class PathFormat():
         if os.altsep:
             self.basedirectory = self.basedirectory.replace(os.altsep, os.sep)
 
-        skip = extractor.config("skip", True)
-        if skip:
-            if skip == "abort":
-                self._skipexc = exception.StopExtraction
-            elif skip == "exit":
-                self._skipexc = sys.exit
-            else:
-                self._skipexc = None
-        else:
-            self.exists = lambda x=None: False
-
     def open(self, mode="wb"):
         """Open file and return a corresponding file object"""
         return open(self.temppath, mode)
@@ -471,9 +460,8 @@ class PathFormat():
         """Return True if the file exists on disk or in 'archive'"""
         if (archive and archive.check(self.keywords) or
                 self.has_extension and os.path.exists(self.realpath)):
-            if self._skipexc:
-                raise self._skipexc()
             if not self.has_extension:
+                # adjust display name
                 self.set_extension("")
                 if self.path[-1] == ".":
                     self.path = self.path[:-1]