diff --git a/trove/cluster/models.py b/trove/cluster/models.py
index 2fc5b37fc4..2e990fece2 100644
--- a/trove/cluster/models.py
+++ b/trove/cluster/models.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from trove.common import exception
 from trove.common.i18n import _
 from trove.common import remote
 from trove.common.strategies.cluster import strategy
+from trove.common import utils
 from trove.datastore import models as datastore_models
 from trove.db import models as dbmodels
 from trove.instance import models as inst_models
@@ -96,9 +97,7 @@ class Cluster(object):
     def load_all(cls, context, tenant_id):
         db_infos = DBCluster.find_all(tenant_id=tenant_id,
                                       deleted=False)
-        limit = int(context.limit or Cluster.DEFAULT_LIMIT)
-        if limit > Cluster.DEFAULT_LIMIT:
-            limit = Cluster.DEFAULT_LIMIT
+        limit = utils.pagination_limit(context.limit, Cluster.DEFAULT_LIMIT)
         data_view = DBCluster.find_by_pagination('clusters', db_infos, "foo",
                                                  limit=limit,
                                                  marker=context.marker)
diff --git a/trove/common/utils.py b/trove/common/utils.py
index 85fd27ed3c..a307d8a8a6 100644
--- a/trove/common/utils.py
+++ b/trove/common/utils.py
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@ ENV = jinja2.Environment(loader=jinja2.ChoiceLoader([
                          ]))
 
 
+def pagination_limit(limit, default_limit):
+    limit = int(limit or default_limit)
+    return min(limit, default_limit)
+
+
 def create_method_args_string(*args, **kwargs):
     """Returns a string representation of args and keyword args.
 
diff --git a/trove/configuration/models.py b/trove/configuration/models.py
index 5e1f9178a7..3d6c081e53 100644
--- a/trove/configuration/models.py
+++ b/trove/configuration/models.py
@@ -54,10 +54,8 @@ class Configurations(object):
                 LOG.debug("No configurations found for tenant %s"
                           % context.tenant)
 
-        limit = int(context.limit or Configurations.DEFAULT_LIMIT)
-        if limit > Configurations.DEFAULT_LIMIT:
-            limit = Configurations.DEFAULT_LIMIT
-
+        limit = utils.pagination_limit(context.limit,
+                                       Configurations.DEFAULT_LIMIT)
         data_view = DBConfiguration.find_by_pagination('configurations',
                                                        db_info,
                                                        "foo",
diff --git a/trove/extensions/mysql/models.py b/trove/extensions/mysql/models.py
index 0c080ca888..80ba45b456 100644
--- a/trove/extensions/mysql/models.py
+++ b/trove/extensions/mysql/models.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from oslo_log import log as logging
 from trove.common import cfg
 from trove.common import exception
 from trove.common.remote import create_guest_client
+from trove.common import utils
 from trove.extensions.common.models import load_and_verify
 from trove.extensions.common.models import RootHistory
 from trove.guestagent.db import models as guest_models
@@ -166,8 +167,7 @@ class UserAccess(object):
 def load_via_context(cls, context, instance_id):
     """Creates guest and fetches pagination arguments from the context."""
     load_and_verify(context, instance_id)
-    limit = int(context.limit or cls.DEFAULT_LIMIT)
-    limit = cls.DEFAULT_LIMIT if limit > cls.DEFAULT_LIMIT else limit
+    limit = utils.pagination_limit(context.limit, cls.DEFAULT_LIMIT)
     client = create_guest_client(context, instance_id)
     # The REST API standard dictates that we *NEVER* include the marker.
     return cls.load_with_client(client=client, limit=limit,
diff --git a/trove/instance/models.py b/trove/instance/models.py
index 14690505f0..ee63583d38 100644
--- a/trove/instance/models.py
+++ b/trove/instance/models.py
@@ -1172,9 +1172,7 @@ class Instances(object):
             db_infos = DBInstance.find_all(tenant_id=context.tenant,
                                            cluster_id=None,
                                            deleted=False)
-        limit = int(context.limit or Instances.DEFAULT_LIMIT)
-        if limit > Instances.DEFAULT_LIMIT:
-            limit = Instances.DEFAULT_LIMIT
+        limit = utils.pagination_limit(context.limit, Instances.DEFAULT_LIMIT)
         data_view = DBInstance.find_by_pagination('instances', db_infos, "foo",
                                                   limit=limit,
                                                   marker=context.marker)
diff --git a/trove/tests/unittests/common/test_utils.py b/trove/tests/unittests/common/test_utils.py
index cfda365ff2..00c14f8fd0 100644
--- a/trove/tests/unittests/common/test_utils.py
+++ b/trove/tests/unittests/common/test_utils.py
@@ -75,3 +75,7 @@ class TestTroveExecuteWithTimeout(trove_testtools.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(1, utils.unpack_singleton([[[1]]]))
         self.assertEqual([[1], [2]], utils.unpack_singleton([[1], [2]]))
         self.assertEqual(['a', 'b'], utils.unpack_singleton(['a', 'b']))
+
+    def test_pagination_limit(self):
+        self.assertEqual(5, utils.pagination_limit(5, 9))
+        self.assertEqual(5, utils.pagination_limit(9, 5))