If you insert more than 10 user controls in a masterpage, you might get an error similar to this:

The page ‘/path/somefile.master’ allows a limit of 11 direct dependencies, and that limit has been exceeded.

You can easily increase that limit as it is actually set in your sharepoint web.config:

1) Browse to C:\inetpub\wwwroot\wss\VirtualDirectories\

2) Open the folder corresponding to your Sharepoint website.

3) Edit the file web.config

4) Do a search for “safemode“.

5) Change the property DirectFileDependencies from 10 to a value your choice.

6) Do an iisreset command and you’re done!