diff --git a/classes/Notice.php b/classes/Notice.php
index 1c48581492..78786b27de 100644
--- a/classes/Notice.php
+++ b/classes/Notice.php
@@ -125,7 +125,12 @@ class Notice extends Memcached_DataObject
 
         $profile = Profile::staticGet($profile_id);
 
-        $final =  common_shorten_links($content);
+        $final = common_shorten_links($content);
+
+        if (mb_strlen($final) > 140) {
+            common_log(LOG_INFO, 'Rejecting notice that is too long.');
+            return _('Problem saving notice. Too long.');
+        }
 
         if (!$profile) {
             common_log(LOG_ERR, 'Problem saving notice. Unknown user.');
diff --git a/scripts/maildaemon.php b/scripts/maildaemon.php
index b9facec1a5..9dd647bf46 100755
--- a/scripts/maildaemon.php
+++ b/scripts/maildaemon.php
@@ -66,7 +66,13 @@ class MailerDaemon
             return true;
         }
         $msg = $this->cleanup_msg($msg);
-        $this->add_notice($user, $msg);
+        $err = $this->add_notice($user, $msg);
+        if (is_string($err)) {
+            $this->error($from, $err);
+            return false;
+        } else {
+            return true;
+        }
     }
 
     function error($from, $msg)
@@ -130,17 +136,15 @@ class MailerDaemon
 
     function add_notice($user, $msg)
     {
-        // should test
-        // $msg_shortened = common_shorten_links($msg);
-        // if (mb_strlen($msg_shortened) > 140) ERROR and STOP
         $notice = Notice::saveNew($user->id, $msg, 'mail');
         if (is_string($notice)) {
             $this->log(LOG_ERR, $notice);
-            return;
+            return $notice;
         }
         common_broadcast_notice($notice);
         $this->log(LOG_INFO,
                    'Added notice ' . $notice->id . ' from user ' . $user->nickname);
+        return true;
     }
 
     function parse_message($fname)