diff --git a/pkg/vm/stackitem/serialization.go b/pkg/vm/stackitem/serialization.go
index 03cfa8ee1..f739817c3 100644
--- a/pkg/vm/stackitem/serialization.go
+++ b/pkg/vm/stackitem/serialization.go
@@ -232,6 +232,27 @@ func Deserialize(data []byte) (Item, error) {
 	return item, nil
 }
 
+// DeserializeLimited returns Item deserialized from the given byte slice. limit
+// restricts the maximum number of items deserialized item can contain (including
+// itself). The default limit of MaxDeserialized is used if non-positive limit is
+// specified.
+func DeserializeLimited(data []byte, limit int) (Item, error) {
+	r := io.NewBinReaderFromBuf(data)
+	dc := deserContext{
+		BinReader:    r,
+		allowInvalid: false,
+		limit:        MaxDeserialized,
+	}
+	if limit > 0 {
+		dc.limit = limit
+	}
+	item := dc.decodeBinary()
+	if r.Err != nil {
+		return nil, r.Err
+	}
+	return item, nil
+}
+
 // DecodeBinary decodes the previously serialized Item from the given
 // reader. It's similar to the io.Serializable's DecodeBinary() but implemented
 // as a function because Item itself is an interface. Caveat: always check
diff --git a/pkg/vm/stackitem/serialization_test.go b/pkg/vm/stackitem/serialization_test.go
index 8378536d1..3c0b64190 100644
--- a/pkg/vm/stackitem/serialization_test.go
+++ b/pkg/vm/stackitem/serialization_test.go
@@ -209,6 +209,26 @@ func TestDeserializeTooManyElements(t *testing.T) {
 	require.True(t, errors.Is(err, ErrTooBig), err)
 }
 
+func TestDeserializeLimited(t *testing.T) {
+	customLimit := MaxDeserialized + 1
+	item := Make(0)
+	for i := 0; i < customLimit-1; i++ { // 1 for zero inner element.
+		item = Make([]Item{item})
+	}
+	data, err := Serialize(item)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	actual, err := DeserializeLimited(data, customLimit)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, item, actual)
+
+	item = Make([]Item{item})
+	data, err = Serialize(item)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	_, err = DeserializeLimited(data, customLimit)
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	require.True(t, errors.Is(err, ErrTooBig), err)
+}
+
 func BenchmarkEncodeBinary(b *testing.B) {
 	arr := getBigArray(15)