diff --git a/server/queues/tasks/ImportTask.ts b/server/queues/tasks/ImportTask.ts
index 97d6cdf96..4417c3940 100644
--- a/server/queues/tasks/ImportTask.ts
+++ b/server/queues/tasks/ImportTask.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import invariant from "invariant";
+import { truncate } from "lodash";
 import attachmentCreator from "@server/commands/attachmentCreator";
 import documentCreator from "@server/commands/documentCreator";
 import { sequelize } from "@server/database/sequelize";
@@ -142,7 +143,10 @@ export default abstract class ImportTask extends BaseTask<Props> {
     state: FileOperationState,
     error?: Error
   ) {
-    await fileOperation.update({ state, error: error?.message });
+    await fileOperation.update({
+      state,
+      error: error ? truncate(error.message, { length: 255 }) : undefined,
+    });
     await Event.schedule({
       name: "fileOperations.update",
       modelId: fileOperation.id,