diff --git a/lib/pool.js b/lib/pool.js
index 3fcafbc..2dd0787 100644
--- a/lib/pool.js
+++ b/lib/pool.js
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ class Pool {
       checkTime: args.checkTime ?? 120000, // how often to run the livliness check, will not run when set to 0
       maxLimit: args.maxLimit ?? 200,
       connectionRetryLimit: args.connectionRetryLimit || 5,
-      skipCheckLivelinessOnRelease : args.skipCheckLivelinessOnRelease ?? false,
-      livelinessCheck: args.livelinessCheck ?? 'query'
+      skipCheckLivelinessOnRelease: args.skipCheckLivelinessOnRelease ?? false,
+      livelinessCheck: args.livelinessCheck ?? "query",
     };
     this.poolId = args.id || new Date().getTime();
 
@@ -81,9 +81,11 @@ class Pool {
     let retvalue = true;
     if (this.config.skipCheckLivelinessOnRelease === false) {
       if (connection.hasFailed() === false) {
-        if (this.config.livelinessCheck.toLowerCase() === 'query') {
+        if (this.config.livelinessCheck.toLowerCase() === "query") {
           try {
-            const result = await connection.execute("SELECT 1 AS VALUE FROM DUAL");
+            const result = await connection.execute(
+              "SELECT 1 AS VALUE FROM DUAL"
+            );
             await result.close();
           } catch (e) {
             retvalue = false;
@@ -141,8 +143,9 @@ class Pool {
   }
 
   async _populationCheck() {
-    if (Object.keys(this.all_connections).length < this.config.maxLimit &&
-       this.free_connections.length < this.config.minAvailable 
+    if (
+      Object.keys(this.all_connections).length < this.config.maxLimit &&
+      this.free_connections.length < this.config.minAvailable
     ) {
       let newConn = await this._createConnection();
       this.free_connections.push(newConn);
@@ -205,6 +208,12 @@ class Pool {
   }
 
   async _createConnection() {
+    if (
+      Object.keys(this.all_connections).length >= this.config.maxLimit &&
+      this.free_connections.length === 0
+    ) {
+      throw new Error("connection hard limit reached");
+    }
     let error;
     let connectionMade;
     let tries = 0;
@@ -275,10 +284,11 @@ class Pool {
       try {
         await connection._defaultClose();
       } catch (e) {
-        throw e
+        throw e;
       }
-      if (Object.keys(this.all_connections).length < this.config.maxLimit &&
-         this.free_connections.length < this.config.minAvailable 
+      if (
+        Object.keys(this.all_connections).length < this.config.maxLimit &&
+        this.free_connections.length < this.config.minAvailable
       ) {
         let newConn = await this._createConnection();
         this.free_connections.push(newConn);