diff --git a/src/callbacks.py b/src/callbacks.py
index 4f06e4023..2642bfa7f 100644
--- a/src/callbacks.py
+++ b/src/callbacks.py
@@ -721,6 +721,9 @@ class IrcObjectProxy(RichReplyMethods):
         if self.finalEvaled:
             try:
                 if not isinstance(self.irc, irclib.Irc):
+                    s = s[:conf.supybot.reply.maximumLength()]
+                    if conf.get(supybot.reply.truncate, self.msg.args[0]):
+                        s = s[:512]
                     self.irc.reply(s, to=self.to,
                                    notice=self.notice,
                                    action=self.action,
diff --git a/src/conf.py b/src/conf.py
index 6c64207e3..d2bdab66c 100644
--- a/src/conf.py
+++ b/src/conf.py
@@ -261,6 +261,10 @@ registerGlobalValue(supybot, 'channels',
 ###
 registerGroup(supybot, 'reply')
 
+registerGlobalValue(supybot.reply, 'maximumLength',
+    registry.Integer(512*256, """Determines the absolute maximum length of the
+    bot's reply -- no reply will passed through the bot greater than this."""))
+
 registerChannelValue(supybot.reply, 'truncate',
     registry.Boolean(False, """Determines whether the bot will simply truncate
     messages instead of breaking up long messages and using the 'more' command