A pressure support system configured to deliver a pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of a subject, the pressure support system comprising: a pressure generator configured to generate the pressurized flow of breathable gas; one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to one or more gas parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas; and one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising: a leak module configured to estimate a current leak value; a control module configured to control operation of the pressure generator to generate the pressurized flow of breathable gas according to a limited flow mode therapy regime that dictates a therapeutic level of a flow rate of the one or more gas parameters at or near the airway of the subject; a compensation module configured to determine a compensation amount to adjust the flow rate to compensate for respiratory effort during inhalation to maintain the therapeutic level for the flow rate, wherein the compensation module is configured to determine the compensation amount based on the therapeutic level and the output signals; wherein the control module is configured to control the pressure generator to generate the pressurized flow of breathable gas with the flow rate at a level that reflects the compensation amount; and a compensation limit module configured to determine a compensation limit for the compensation amount of the flow rate based on the current leak value; wherein the compensation module is configured to implement the compensation limit as a limit for the compensation amount, wherein the current leak value is an instantaneous indication of the amount of leak in the pressure support system, wherein the compensation limit module is configured to determine a flow rate compensation limit that is one to two times the current leak value. a pressure generator configured to generate the pressurized flow of breathable gas; one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to one or more gas parameters of the pressurized flow of breathable gas; and one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising: a leak module configured to estimate a current leak value; a control module configured to control operation of the pressure generator to generate the pressurized flow of breathable gas according to a limited flow mode therapy regime that dictates a therapeutic level of a flow rate of the one or more gas parameters at or near the airway of the subject; a compensation module configured to determine a compensation amount to adjust the flow rate to compensate for respiratory effort during inhalation to maintain the therapeutic level for the flow rate, wherein the compensation module is configured to determine the compensation amount based on the therapeutic level and the output signals; wherein the control module is configured to control the pressure generator to generate the pressurized flow of breathable gas with the flow rate at a level that reflects the compensation amount; and a compensation limit module configured to determine a compensation limit for the compensation amount of the flow rate based on the current leak value; wherein the compensation module is configured to implement the compensation limit as a limit for the compensation amount, wherein the current leak value is an instantaneous indication of the amount of leak in the pressure support system, wherein the compensation limit module is configured to determine a flow rate compensation limit that is one to two times the current leak value. a leak module configured to estimate a current leak value; a control module configured to control operation of the pressure generator to generate the pressurized flow of breathable gas according to a limited flow mode therapy regime that dictates a therapeutic level of a flow rate of the one or more gas parameters at or near the airway of the subject; a compensation module configured to determine a compensation amount to adjust the flow rate to compensate for respiratory effort during inhalation to maintain the therapeutic level for the flow rate, wherein the compensation module is configured to determine the compensation amount based on the therapeutic level and the output signals; wherein the control module is configured to control the pressure generator to generate the pressurized flow of breathable gas with the flow rate at a level that reflects the compensation amount; and a compensation limit module configured to determine a compensation limit for the compensation amount of the flow rate based on the current leak value; wherein the compensation module is configured to implement the compensation limit as a limit for the compensation amount, wherein the current leak value is an instantaneous indication of the amount of leak in the pressure support system, wherein the compensation limit module is configured to determine a flow rate compensation limit that is one to two times the current leak value.