diff --git a/docs/source/upcoming_release_notes/622-fix_long_pos_msg_crash.rst b/docs/source/upcoming_release_notes/622-fix_long_pos_msg_crash.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2b8cd38d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/source/upcoming_release_notes/622-fix_long_pos_msg_crash.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+622 fix_long_pos_msg_crash
+##########################
+
+API Breaks
+----------
+- N/A
+
+Features
+--------
+- N/A
+
+Bugfixes
+--------
+- Fix an issue where long status messages from positioner widget moves
+  would fail to display in certain circumstances.
+
+Maintenance
+-----------
+- N/A
+
+Contributors
+------------
+- zllentz
diff --git a/typhos/positioner.py b/typhos/positioner.py
index b10f405a..7e92c847 100644
--- a/typhos/positioner.py
+++ b/typhos/positioner.py
@@ -801,7 +801,7 @@ def _set_status_text(
                 tooltip = f"{text}: {tooltip}"
             else:
                 tooltip = text
-            text = message.text[:max_length] + '...'
+            text = text[:max_length] + '...'
         self.ui.status_label.setText(text)
         if tooltip and "\n" not in tooltip:
             # Force rich text, qt auto line wraps if it detects rich text
diff --git a/typhos/tests/test_positioner.py b/typhos/tests/test_positioner.py
index d8fe123b..933a3a09 100644
--- a/typhos/tests/test_positioner.py
+++ b/typhos/tests/test_positioner.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 from typhos.alarm import KindLevel
 from typhos.positioner import TyphosPositionerWidget
-from typhos.status import TyphosStatusResult
+from typhos.status import TyphosStatusMessage, TyphosStatusResult
 from typhos.utils import SignalRO
 
 from .conftest import RichSignal, show_widget
@@ -274,3 +274,30 @@ def has_limit_error():
         assert 'LimitError' in widget.ui.status_label.text()
 
     qtbot.waitUntil(has_limit_error, timeout=1000)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.no_gc
+def test_positioner_widget_long_status_text(motor_widget):
+    _, widget = motor_widget
+
+    assert widget.ui.status_label.text() == ''
+
+    widget._set_status_text("Oh no! " * 1000, max_length=50)
+
+    text = widget.ui.status_label.text()
+    assert text.endswith("...")
+    assert len(text) < 60
+
+    widget._set_status_text("")
+    assert widget.ui.status_label.text() == ''
+
+    widget._set_status_text(
+        TyphosStatusMessage(
+            "Error! " * 1000,
+            tooltip="Test suite giant error string!",
+        ),
+        max_length=50,
+    )
+    text = widget.ui.status_label.text()
+    assert text.endswith("...")
+    assert len(text) < 60