diff --git a/doc/reducetraffic.md b/doc/reduce-traffic.md
similarity index 83%
rename from doc/reducetraffic.md
rename to doc/reduce-traffic.md
index a79571913..2d86588eb 100644
--- a/doc/reducetraffic.md
+++ b/doc/reduce-traffic.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Reduce Traffic
 ==============
 
-Some node operators need to deal with bandwith caps imposed by their ISPs.
+Some node operators need to deal with bandwidth caps imposed by their ISPs.
 
 By default, bitcoin-core allows up to 125 connections to different peers, 8 of
 which are outbound. You can therefore, have at most 117 inbound connections.
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ Keep in mind that new nodes require other nodes that are willing to serve
 historic blocks. **The recommended minimum is 144 blocks per day (max. 144MB
 per day)**
 
+Whitelisted peers will never be disconnected, although their traffic counts for
+calculating the target.
+
 ## 2. Disable "listening" (`-listen=0`)
 
 Disabling listening will result in fewer nodes connected (remember the maximum of 8
@@ -30,6 +33,6 @@ blocks and transactions to fewer nodes.
 
 ## 3. Reduce maximum connections (`-maxconnections=<num>`)
 
-Reducing the maximum connected nodes to a miniumum could be desirable if traffic
+Reducing the maximum connected nodes to a minimum could be desirable if traffic
 limits are tiny. Keep in mind that bitcoin's trustless model works best if you are
 connected to a handful of nodes.
diff --git a/doc/release-notes.md b/doc/release-notes.md
index 2e9cc1694..e4dcc60cf 100644
--- a/doc/release-notes.md
+++ b/doc/release-notes.md
@@ -184,6 +184,9 @@ This option can be specified in MiB per day and is turned off by default
 (`-maxuploadtarget=0`).
 The recommended minimum is 144 * MAX_BLOCK_SIZE (currently 144MB) per day.
 
+Whitelisted peers will never be disconnected, although their traffic counts for
+calculating the target.
+
 A more detailed documentation about keeping traffic low can be found in
 [/doc/reducetraffic.md](/doc/reducetraffic.md).
 
diff --git a/qa/rpc-tests/maxuploadtarget.py b/qa/rpc-tests/maxuploadtarget.py
index 148c5f37e..e714465db 100755
--- a/qa/rpc-tests/maxuploadtarget.py
+++ b/qa/rpc-tests/maxuploadtarget.py
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ class MaxUploadTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         daily_buffer = 144 * 1000000
         max_bytes_available = max_bytes_per_day - daily_buffer
         success_count = max_bytes_available / old_block_size
-        
+
         # 144MB will be reserved for relaying new blocks, so expect this to
         # succeed for ~70 tries.
         for i in xrange(success_count):
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ class MaxUploadTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         test_nodes[1].send_message(getdata_request)
         test_nodes[1].wait_for_disconnect()
         assert_equal(len(self.nodes[0].getpeerinfo()), 1)
-        
+
         print "Peer 1 disconnected after trying to download old block"
 
         print "Advancing system time on node to clear counters..."
@@ -245,5 +245,38 @@ class MaxUploadTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
 
         [c.disconnect_node() for c in connections]
 
+        #stop and start node 0 with 1MB maxuploadtarget, whitelist 127.0.0.1
+        print "Restarting nodes with -whitelist=127.0.0.1"
+        stop_node(self.nodes[0], 0)
+        self.nodes[0] = start_node(0, self.options.tmpdir, ["-debug", "-whitelist=127.0.0.1", "-maxuploadtarget=1", "-blockmaxsize=999000"])
+
+        #recreate/reconnect 3 test nodes
+        test_nodes = []
+        connections = []
+
+        for i in xrange(3):
+            test_nodes.append(TestNode())
+            connections.append(NodeConn('127.0.0.1', p2p_port(0), self.nodes[0], test_nodes[i]))
+            test_nodes[i].add_connection(connections[i])
+
+        NetworkThread().start() # Start up network handling in another thread
+        [x.wait_for_verack() for x in test_nodes]
+
+        #retrieve 20 blocks which should be enough to break the 1MB limit
+        getdata_request.inv = [CInv(2, big_new_block)]
+        for i in xrange(20):
+            test_nodes[1].send_message(getdata_request)
+            test_nodes[1].sync_with_ping()
+            assert_equal(test_nodes[1].block_receive_map[big_new_block], i+1)
+
+        getdata_request.inv = [CInv(2, big_old_block)]
+        test_nodes[1].send_message(getdata_request)
+        test_nodes[1].wait_for_disconnect()
+        assert_equal(len(self.nodes[0].getpeerinfo()), 3) #node is still connected because of the whitelist
+
+        print "Peer 1 still connected after trying to download old block (whitelisted)"
+
+        [c.disconnect_node() for c in connections]
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     MaxUploadTest().main()
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 5208fbb03..4647112d4 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -3867,8 +3867,9 @@ void static ProcessGetData(CNode* pfrom, const Consensus::Params& consensusParam
                     }
                 }
                 // disconnect node in case we have reached the outbound limit for serving historical blocks
+                // never disconnect whitelisted nodes
                 static const int nOneWeek = 7 * 24 * 60 * 60; // assume > 1 week = historical
-                if (send && CNode::OutboundTargetReached(true) && ( ((pindexBestHeader != NULL) && (pindexBestHeader->GetBlockTime() - mi->second->GetBlockTime() > nOneWeek)) || inv.type == MSG_FILTERED_BLOCK) )
+                if (send && CNode::OutboundTargetReached(true) && ( ((pindexBestHeader != NULL) && (pindexBestHeader->GetBlockTime() - mi->second->GetBlockTime() > nOneWeek)) || inv.type == MSG_FILTERED_BLOCK) && !pfrom->fWhitelisted)
                 {
                     LogPrint("net", "historical block serving limit reached, disconnect peer=%d\n", pfrom->GetId());