diff --git a/lib/active_merchant/billing/gateways/litle.rb b/lib/active_merchant/billing/gateways/litle.rb
index afb742a09f2..10b80277fb0 100755
--- a/lib/active_merchant/billing/gateways/litle.rb
+++ b/lib/active_merchant/billing/gateways/litle.rb
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ def create_hash(money, options)
         end
 
         if options[:description]
-          enhanced_data['customerReference'] = options[:description]
+          enhanced_data['customerReference'] = options[:description][0..16]
         end
 
         if options[:billing_address]
diff --git a/test/unit/gateways/litle_test.rb b/test/unit/gateways/litle_test.rb
index 8ca342b3e0c..5a895b35911 100755
--- a/test/unit/gateways/litle_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/gateways/litle_test.rb
@@ -744,6 +744,20 @@ def test_deprecated_credit
     end
   end
 
+  def test_refund_should_not_error_on_customer_reference_length
+    return_object = {
+      'response' => '0',
+      'creditResponse' => {
+        'response'    => '000',
+        'message'     => 'pass',
+        'litleTxnId'  =>'123456789012345678'
+      }
+    }
+    LitleOnline::Communications.expects(:http_post => return_object.to_xml(:root => 'litleOnlineResponse'))
+    response = @gateway.refund(0, "1234;credit", {:description => 'A lengthy refund description'})
+    assert response.success?
+  end
+
   private
 
   def with_litle_configuration_restoration(&block)