diff --git a/tools/tcptop.py b/tools/tcptop.py
index bcdbd591346e..13d30b1a772b 100755
--- a/tools/tcptop.py
+++ b/tools/tcptop.py
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ def range_check(string):
     help="skip system summary line")
 parser.add_argument("-p", "--pid",
     help="trace this PID only")
+parser.add_argument("-o", "--outputlines", default=-1, type=range_check,
+    help="Number of lines to output per interval")
 parser.add_argument("interval", nargs="?", default=1, type=range_check,
     help="output interval, in seconds (default 1)")
 parser.add_argument("count", nargs="?", default=-1, type=range_check,
@@ -367,9 +369,10 @@ def get_ipv6_session_key(k):
             "LADDR6", "RADDR6", "RX_KB", "TX_KB"))
 
     # output
-    for k, (send_bytes, recv_bytes) in sorted(ipv6_throughput.items(),
-                                              key=lambda kv: sum(kv[1]),
-                                              reverse=True):
+    outputElements = sorted(ipv6_throughput.items(),key=lambda kv: sum(kv[1]),reverse=True)
+    if args.outputlines > 0:
+        del outputElements[args.outputlines:]
+    for k, (send_bytes, recv_bytes) in outputElements:
         print("%-7d %-12.12s %-32s %-32s %6d %6d" % (k.pid,
             k.name,
             k.laddr + ":" + str(k.lport),