--- pam_limits.c.ori	2017-05-16 09:44:02.819262851 -0600
+++ pam_limits.c	2017-05-16 09:44:48.131237292 -0600
@@ -691,6 +691,9 @@
 	return LIMIT_RANGE_NONE;
     ++pmax;
 
+    if (range[0]=='*') 
+	return LIMIT_RANGE_NONE;
+
     if (range[0] == '@' || range[0] == '%')
 	++range;
 
@@ -854,9 +857,14 @@
             } else {
 		switch(rngtype) {
 		    case LIMIT_RANGE_NONE:
-			if (strcmp(domain, "*") == 0)
+			if (strcmp(domain,"*")==0) { // process for everyone, except for root (next line)
+			    if ( uid==0) { //don't process root limits unless specified in the config file
+				break; // fall out of switch/case because we are root
+			    } else { // we aren't root, so let's go ahead and set the limits
 			    process_limit(pamh, LIMITS_DEF_DEFAULT, ltype, item, value, ctrl,
 					  pl);
+			    }
+			}
 			break;
 		    case LIMIT_RANGE_ONE:
 			if (uid != max_uid)