diff --git a/src/transaction.cc b/src/transaction.cc
index cf52288d9b..135e2128c3 100644
--- a/src/transaction.cc
+++ b/src/transaction.cc
@@ -1806,7 +1806,7 @@ std::string Transaction::toJSON(int parts) {
                 strlen("details"));
             yajl_gen_map_open(g);
             LOGFY_ADD("match", a.m_match.c_str());
-            LOGFY_ADD("reference", a.m_reference.c_str());
+            LOGFY_ADD("reference", utils::string::limitTo(200, a.m_reference).c_str());
             LOGFY_ADD("ruleId", std::to_string(a.m_ruleId).c_str());
             LOGFY_ADD("file", a.m_ruleFile->c_str());
             LOGFY_ADD("lineNumber", std::to_string(a.m_ruleLine).c_str());