---
title: "Permerror; SPF Permanent Error Caused Due to Too Many DNS Lookups | AutoSPF"
description: "If your SPF record exceeds the maximum limit of 10 DNS lookups, then SPF permerror (short for permanent error) occurs. It causes email deliverability and s"
image: "https://autospf.com/images/og-default.png"
canonical: "https://autospf.com/spf-too-many-dns-lookups/permerror-spf-permanent-error-too-many-dns-lookups/"
---

#  Permerror; SPF Permanent Error Caused Due to Too Many DNS Lookups 

 SPF permerror (permanent error) occurs when an SPF record exceeds the maximum limit of 10 DNS lookups, harming email deliverability and DKIM/DMARC operations while exposing domains to phishing and spoofing. Fixes include removing unnecessary include statements, using ip4/ip6 addresses, deleting ptr mechanisms, removing invalid domain references, and applying SPF flattening or compression. 

## Try Our Free SPF Checker

Instantly analyze any domain's SPF record - check syntax, count DNS lookups, and flag errors.

[ Check SPF Record →](/tools/spf-checker/) 

If your [SPF record](/spf-too-many-dns-lookups/multiple-spf-records/) exceeds the maximum limit of 10 DNS lookups, then [SPF permerror](/spf-too-many-dns-lookups/) (short for permanent error) occurs. It causes [email deliverability](https://clearout.io/blog/factors-that-impact-email-deliverability/) and security issues, impacting the performance of DKIM and DMARC operations. All these issues expose emails and domains to _phishing, spoofing, and spam attacks._

![Spf Record 2](https://media.mailhop.org/autospf/images/2023/11/spf-record-2.jpg) 

## **How to Stay Within the SPF DNS-Lookup Limit to Avoid the Permerror Problem in SPF Records?**

These implementations and SPF specifications can help you decrease the need for DNS lookups or DNS queries and steer clear of the issue-

![Permerror Spf Permanent Error Too Many Dns Lookups](https://media.mailhop.org/autospf/images/2023/11/permerror-spf-permanent-error-too-many-dns-lookups.jpg) 

DNS LOOKUP- HOW IT WORKS

[Image sourced](https://think.unblog.ch/en/dns-lookup-how-it-works-examples/) from think.unblog.ch

- Remove unnecessary **include statements** from your SPF DNS records.
- Use the sender IP addresses belonging to the ip4 and ip6 range.
- Remove mechanisms belonging to the same domain.
- Delete all “ptr” mechanisms.
- Remove any invalid or unused domain references.
- [SPF flattening](/spf-too-many-dns-lookups/the-significance-of-spf-flattening-in-fixing-permerror-caused-due-to-too-many-dns-lookup-limit-error/) or compression.

## Fix your SPF record in 60 seconds

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