diff --git a/py3status/constants.py b/py3status/constants.py
index fd426e8350..749db6519d 100644
--- a/py3status/constants.py
+++ b/py3status/constants.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
     'color_separator': '#333333',
     'colors': False,
     'interval': 5,
+    'max_size': False,
     'output_format': 'i3bar'
 }
 
diff --git a/py3status/core.py b/py3status/core.py
index 69a498f9c2..d1d7553a05 100644
--- a/py3status/core.py
+++ b/py3status/core.py
@@ -889,6 +889,7 @@ def create_output_modules(self):
                 output_modules[name]['module'] = self.modules[name]
                 output_modules[name]['type'] = 'py3status'
                 output_modules[name]['color'] = self.mappings_color.get(name)
+                output_modules[name]['max_size'] = self.mappings_max_size.get(name)
         # i3status modules
         for name in i3modules:
             if name not in output_modules:
@@ -897,6 +898,7 @@ def create_output_modules(self):
                 output_modules[name]['module'] = i3modules[name]
                 output_modules[name]['type'] = 'i3status'
                 output_modules[name]['color'] = self.mappings_color.get(name)
+                output_modules[name]['max_size'] = self.mappings_max_size.get(name)
 
         self.output_modules = output_modules
 
@@ -913,21 +915,44 @@ def create_mappings(self, config):
             if hasattr(color, 'none_setting'):
                 color = None
             mappings[name] = color
+
+            max_size = self.get_config_attribute(name, 'max_size')
+            if hasattr(max_size, 'none_setting'):
+                max_size = None
+            mappings[name] = max_size
+
         # Store mappings for later use.
+        self.mappings_max_size = mappings
         self.mappings_color = mappings
 
     def process_module_output(self, module):
         """
         Process the output for a module and return a json string representing it.
         Color processing occurs here.
+        Shortened text 'short_text' processing occurs here.
         """
         outputs = module['module'].get_latest()
         color = module['color']
-        if color:
-            for output in outputs:
+        max_size = module['max_size']
+
+        for output in outputs:
+            if color:
                 # Color: substitute the config defined color
                 if 'color' not in output:
                     output['color'] = color
+
+            if 'short_text' not in output:
+                full_text = output['full_text']
+                if int(max_size) >= 1:
+                    short = full_text[:max_size] if len(full_text) > int(max_size) else full_text
+                    short = short + '..' if len(short + '..') < len(full_text) else short
+                    output['short_text'] = short
+                elif max_size is True:
+                    size = int((len(full_text) + 1) / 2)
+                    short = full_text[:size]
+                    short = short + '..' if len(short + '..') < len(full_text) else short
+                    output['short_text'] = short
+
         # Create the json string output.
         return ','.join([dumps(x) for x in outputs])
 
diff --git a/py3status/module.py b/py3status/module.py
index 290d8b2c9b..d7476d8184 100644
--- a/py3status/module.py
+++ b/py3status/module.py
@@ -658,6 +658,15 @@ def deprecation_log(item):
                 param = True
             self.allow_urgent = param
 
+            # max_size
+            # get the value form the config or use the module default if
+            # supplied.
+            fn = self._py3_wrapper.get_config_attribute
+            param = fn(self.module_full_name, 'max_size')
+            if hasattr(param, 'none_setting'):
+                param = True
+            self.max_size = param
+
             # get the available methods for execution
             for method in sorted(dir(class_inst)):
                 if method.startswith('_'):