--- main/asterisk.c	(Asterisk 13.9.1)
+++ main/asterisk.c	(working copy)
@@ -608,2 +608,4 @@
 	char eid_str[128];
+	struct rlimit limits;
+	getrlimit(RLIMIT_NOFILE, &limits);
 
@@ -629,6 +631,7 @@
 		ast_cli(a->fd, "  Maximum calls:               Not set\n");
-	if (ast_option_maxfiles)
-		ast_cli(a->fd, "  Maximum open file handles:   %d\n", ast_option_maxfiles);
-	else
-		ast_cli(a->fd, "  Maximum open file handles:   Not set\n");
+	if (limits.rlim_cur < ast_option_maxfiles) {
+		ast_cli(a->fd, "  Maximum open file handles:   %d (is) %d (requested)\n", (int) limits.rlim_cur, ast_option_maxfiles);
+	} else {
+		ast_cli(a->fd, "  Maximum open file handles:   %d\n", (int) limits.rlim_cur);
+	}
 	ast_cli(a->fd, "  Root console verbosity:      %d\n", option_verbose);