In certain aspects, a memory device includes memory cells, word lines coupled to the memory cells, and a peripheral circuit coupled to the memory cells. The peripheral circuit is coupled to the word lines and configured to apply program pulses to a selected word line of the word lines in a program operation, obtain a number of occurrences of suspensions during the program operation, and determine a limit on a number of program pulses for the program operation based on the number of occurrences of the suspensions during the program operation.